A mansion where The Crown and Mission: Impossible were filmed could become part of a permanent Watford film hub.
Hotel group Ralph Trustees Limited has plans to “seamlessly integrate” Grade II*-listed Langleybury Mansion and surrounding parkland with film facilities, but Historic England and neighbours have raised objections to the green belt development.
The existing site – next to the M25 and Warner Bros Studios Leavesden – was once the site of a school and remains home to a children’s farm, which would be relocated on the plot with “improved facilities”.
Online commenters have urged Three Rivers District Council to refuse planning permission, warning of a “blot” on the Hertfordshire countryside.
One objector who lives in the Langleybury area wrote: “I and others are really not happy with this proposal – at all.
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“So much has already changed.
“It’s gone from cows grazing and a few farm buildings to industrial-sized buildings, car and caravan parking, manned securiy boxes, coloured flags on every pole available [and] huge lorries that can’t even turn into the entrance.
“I think Langleybury Lane is going to become another Warner Bros blot on what was a countryside location.
“Such a shame.”
Another commenter said if other studios in and around Watford decide to expand, green belt at Langleybury is likely to become “even more valuable”.
Plans put forward by the developer show two potential arrangements – with the large buildings either along Langleybury Lane or the M25 Hunton Bridge spur.
The commenter said: “The proposed warehouse buildings in a ribbon along Langleybury Lane will have a massive impact on the views and character of the valley as seen from Abbots Langley and Hunton bridge.
“Add to this the plan to have a backlot [near the A41], with the scaffolding and shipping containers used to support scenery visible form from the A41.
“Green space has been saved between the backlot and the canal, but what ensures this is not used for future expansion?”
“In these times when we are in a state of drought, we should be avoiding building on fields that feed rainwater straight into the chalk aquifer used for water… supply locally and in north-west London,” they said.
“They say they have mitigated this by capturing rainwater run-off, passing it through filter beds and storing it for irrigation.
“They are making the situation worse by proposing to use the water to irrigate the grounds – this will just lead to most of the water being evaporated off in summer.”
Neither Natural England nor the Environment Agency have objected to the proposal.
But Historic England has raised an objection and asked Three Rivers District Council to give “great weight to the conservation of this highly significant mansion house and its setting” in the planning balance.
“The proposed use would put the long-term future of this building at risk,” a Historic England spokesperson said.
Not everyone objects to the proposal.
“As a previous pupil of Langleybury School, I am thrilled at this proposal for the old school site,” a commenter from Hampshire said.
“Not only is this a great opportunity to continue the education of young people at Langleybury, but the opportunity to bring developing businesses to the area.
“That it is also planned to restore the mansion to its former glory is also a huge bonus.”
A neighbour wrote: “At long last, the mansion house could be restored to its former glory instead of being left to decay.”
According to the developers, Langleybury Mansion is already being used for filming on an “ad hoc” basis.
The historic home features in the music video to Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”, as well as in Emmy-winning BBC drama McMafia, Kingsman, The Crown and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
It adds: “The overall intention is to create a film hub like no other – one which builds upon the rich history of the Langleybury site and in a manner which is sensitive to the beautiful historic landscape which surrounds it.”
As part of the proposals, the developer has promised to establish a “fossil-free development from the outset” and create a “mosaic of ecologically valuable habitat” throughout the estate.
The report notes: “The current proposals are an opportunity to comprehensively enhance and transform the estate in perpetuity.
“They would see the removal of all the modern damaging elements, the improvement and repair of all historic buildings, and they would create a long-term sustainable use with a vastly improved setting of the listed building, allowing public appreciation and public access that has not previously existed.”
The application remains under consideration by Three Rivers District Council.
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