Hans Zimmer’s BBC Maida Vale Studio plan earns approval
By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter
A proposal to build a “world leading” film and music centre by a firm involving Hans Zimmer has been approved.
Westminster City councillors overwhelmingly backed the plan during a meeting last Tuesday. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also wrote in support of the scheme.
Councillors also agreed to allow the proposed terrace area to be used until 8pm after Conservative Cllr Laila Cunningham protested against plans to cut off access from 6pm.
Handing down the decision, Cllr Patrick Lilley, chair of the planning sub-committee, said: “I think it’s a hugely exciting creative proposal for Westminster and for London and for Britain and I think it’s great that so many people across the board – the Mayor of London, Cllr Cunningham – have supported this.”
A representative of Zimmer’s MVS Partnership LLP said the redevelopment of the former BBC recording studios would deliver “substantial benefits” to the UK’s creative industries.
He said: “Westminster is home to leading clusters across film, music and associated professions and the Maida Vale studios offers us a unique opportunity to create a world-leading hub for these industries to collaborate under one roof.”
The application was met with objections from residents living in nearby Delaware Mansion who were concerned about noise and the use of the terrace.
Despite this, the proposal was approved in a 5-0 vote. MVS Partnership LLP applied to turn the dated studios into a state-of-the-art film and music production arena under one roof.
The proposal includes the complete removal of audio recording studios and replacing them with up to 30 composer suites, writing studios as well as general workspace. There are also plans for ‘breakout areas’, a kitchen and bar.
This all forms part of MVS’ vision of a building divided loosely into two zones – visual and audio – in line with the company’s distinct partnership of film and music businesses. The building is set to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The larger part of the building would be dedicated to MVS’ music business while filming is based in newly-built studios at ground and basement level. MVS stressed there would be no ‘hard line’ between the two sections. The former BBC site was purchased by the partnership in 2023 from the broadcaster and had been listed for a reported £10.5m.
MVS will take full ownership of the premises in 2026 when the BBC moves to new studios in Stratford, East London. Maida Vale Studios is a Grade-II listed building. The BBC converted it into studios in 1933, and since then has hosted a huge array of artists from The Beatles to Beyoncé and Sir Elton John.
MVS is a partnership between Zimmer and his long-time business partner Steve Kofsky, and leading UK film producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.
Pictured top: The Maida Vale Studios (Picture: Google Street View)