Issue - meetings

To receive an overview of construction progress and programme.

The Chairman invited Matthew Wright, Head of Planning and Technical Development, Pinewood Studios, to give a presentation that covered the agenda items for the meeting (attached).

Steelworks at the Shepperton Northwest site were nearing completion. Piling foundations had been completed. Cladding of the stage, the internal road layout, and the construction of the car park had all commenced. Completion was still expected to be Spring of 2023.

The first phase of tree planting was complete on the Shepperton South site. Major earthworks had been completed, and piling had commenced. Formation of the car parks and internal roads was underway and steelwork would be arriving to site in the coming months. Completion was anticipated to be from summer of 2023.

To receive an overview of construction progress and programme.

The Chairman invited Matthew Wright, Senior Development Manager, Pinewood Studios, to give a presentation that covered the agenda items for the evening (attached).

Works that had been completed at the Shepperton Northwest site included the construction of the backlot for external filming, building foundations, and fencing. A lift shaft had also been installed. It was anticipated in the next three months that offices would be erected as well as steel frames for workshops. Internal roadways would also be constructed, and power and drainage to the site would be turned on. Completion was anticipated in Spring of 2023.

Works to the Shepperton South site were between three to six months behind compared to Shepperton Northwest, but landscape bunds had been completed. Earthworks, piling, and utility installation were in progress. Within the next three months, it was anticipated that the full-site compound would be established with portacabins and car parks. Steelwork was anticipated to be delivered from May 2022. Anticipated completion for the site was in Summer 2023.

It was acknowledged that Amazon and Netflix were due to occupy these sites when they were completed.

Alick Whitfield, Senior Community Relations Manager for Laing O’Rourke, was invited to present the current construction routing plan. Alick explained that current routing would direct traffic through Upper Halliford and into Shepperton via the B376. The suggested routes sought to avoid Laleham if possible, and this route was submitted as part of the construction management plan and was subject to approval. Residents had requested a second wheelwash for large vehicles leaving the site, and this was being explored. Signage would also be erected on site with contact information and out-of-hours information if there were any issues with construction routing or lorries.

All lorries to the site would have signage in their windscreen identifying their visit to Shepperton Studios, and all drivers would need to make sure their lorries could be identified. Lorries visiting the site needed to be booked in, and if they arrived outside of their booking window, they would be turned away. Bigger vehicles would arrive to site early so they didn’t contribute to morning traffic.

Cllr Attewell expressed concern that if lorries were turned away or turned up too early, they would park in the lay-bys. Alick assured her this would be policed and the lorry drivers would be aware they couldn’t do this.