Fire-damaged film workshop didn’t have planning permission
BUILDINGS ERECTED TO SUPPORT NEW RIDLEY SCOTT EPIC NAPOLEON STARRING JOAQUIN PHOENIX
A BLOCKBUSTER film workshop damaged by a blaze in West London was built without planning permission, the local council has confirmed.
The workshop at Pield Heath Road in Uxbridge caught fire on the evening of March 10 along with two shipping containers.
Documents show that planning permission to build five temporary workshops on the site of an old garden centre was refused by
Hillingdon in June 2021.
The company wanting to build the workshops, Locate Studios, also applied for permission to use the space for commercial filming at the same time.
According to Hillingdon Council, the workshop that caught fire was one of several on the site that did not have planning permission at the time of the fire.
A council spokesperson said: “Some of the buildings damaged by last Thursday night’s fire did not have planning consent. At the time of the fire, the council had an active planning enforcement investigation on the site and the council will now need to carefully consider next steps in light of the incident.”
According to the documents, the workshops would be used to create props and sets for a film being produced at nearby Pinewood Studios.
“Planning permission for the workshops was refused after the council was concerned they would harm the environment in the surrounding Green Belt and disturb residents by being too noisy.
Speaking to MyLondon, a source confirmed that the workshops were built to support the new Ridley Scott epic ‘Napoleon,’ a Napoleon Bonaparte biopic, starring Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix and produced by Apple TV.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “All I can say is that it’s all been destroyed, the workshop. They’re working there for a film called Napoleon, they’ve got various other workshops as well as this location.
“As for how the fire started they don’t know at the moment.”
Seventy firefighters and ten fire engines were called at 7.13pm last Thursday to attend the huge blaze at the workshops.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that one workshop and two shipping containers were completely destroyed.
The fire was brought under control by 11:52pm with no injuries reported. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Due to the damage to the building, fire investigators have been unable to enter the property. Therefore the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.”
Locate Studios and Apple TV have been contacted for comment.