Two million pounds in funding for a new Borehamwood & Elstree Film and TV Heritage Centre, including the Elstree Immersive Experience, has been signed off by Hertsmere Borough Council.
The centre and experience will celebrate Elstree’s film and television heritage, with the town home to the council-owned Elstree Studios as well as Sky Studios Elstree and BBC Elstree Centre.
Hertsmere borough councillors confirmed at a meeting yesterday (Wednesday, November 26) that the authority will pay £2m towards the project from a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) pot, paid into by developers in the area and currently worth around £20m in total.
The £2m investment will then “unlock” a further £1m in outside funding.
Cllr Nik Oakley (Lab), cabinet member for infrastructure, said the project was an “opportunity to create a landmark attraction that celebrates our film heritage, supports local creativity, strengthens our borough’s identity and leaves a lasting legacy”.
She continued: “Hertsmere has long been proud of its deep connection to film and television.
“Our borough’s studios, locations and creative industries have contributed to productions recognised around the world.
“For many residents, the heritage is not just a point of pride, it’s part of our local identity.
“The proposal for an immersive experience offers an opportunity to bring that story to life, not through static displays but through modern, interactive forms of storytelling that engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds.”
The Immersive Experience is set to take over a currently vacant workshop space at Sky Studios Workshop C in Panattoni Park and, according to a council report, is expected to open fully to the public in December 2026.
The cabinet member for finance, Cllr Chris Shenton (LD), said it was “high time there is somewhere to celebrate and experience our filmmaking heritage”.
He continued: “How soon the attraction generates an income stream is inevitably speculative, but we are teaming up with partners with great industry experience and, in the University of Hertfordshire, a wealth of technical know-how.
“Financially, this offers a way to legitimately leverage our CIL money to create both a fantastic attraction and also an income stream into the future.”
Council officers believe the Immersive Experience will be “self-sustaining” and able to “generate significant income”.
The plans for the Immersive Experience received cross-party support from the opposition groups.
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Conservative Cllr Alex Clarkson – an actor – said that it marked “a rare chance to celebrate an area well known for its creative energy”. However, his party colleague, Cllr Paul Hodgson-Jones, sounded a note of caution and was one of two Tories to abstain.
Cllr Hodgson-Jones said he believed there were “a number of questions that still need to be answered” about governance arrangements for the project. “What is the corporate structure going to be? How do we get our money back? How do we ensure that we get a return for the borough?”
It led to accusations from the Labour leader of the council, Cllr Jeremy Newmark, that Cllr Hodgson-Jones was “stuck in the old school attitude of command it, control it, or don’t let it happen”.
Reform UK’s group leader, Cllr Caroline Clapper, said the centre would be a “world-class attraction”, while the Hertsmere First group leader, Cllr Marc Amron, said it had “immense potential” to deliver for the area.
All councillors present at the meeting voted in favour of the plans, with the exception of Cllr Hodgson-Jones and Cllr David Lambert (both Con), who abstained.
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