The developers behind the controversial £1 billion Marlow Studios project have repeated their pledges on transport, green space and biodiversity — but opposition from residents and campaign groups shows no sign of fading.

In a post on social media this week, Marlow Studios said it is "proud" of its location in one of the most beautiful parts of England and vowed to honour it.

The studios say their plans will deliver cycle and walking paths from Marlow town centre, two new fully-funded bus services linking High Wycombe and Marlow to the Elizabeth Line, and a significant investment in Westhorpe Junction on the A404 to improve safety and traffic flow.

On the environment, the developers say 80 per cent of trees on and around the site will be retained, with 600 new trees to be planted and improvements made to aquatic habitats — resulting in a claimed 20 per cent uplift in biodiversity. A quarter of the 90-acre studio site itself, they say, will be opened up as parkland for both employees and the public to enjoy.

But the post drew a wave of sceptical responses from local residents. One commenter questioned the need for a new film studio altogether, pointing to nearby Pinewood's decision to pivot away from studio expansion and towards data centre development. Another said the A404 — already at a standstill at peak hours — would not benefit sufficiently from the proposed junction improvements, calling the development "nothing more than a profit-making exercise at our expense."

There are also growing concerns about a local dog socialisation and rescue facility currently based on the land, which trains and cares for more than 100 dogs, including fosters and abandoned animals. Residents fear the organisation faces being displaced with nowhere to go — raising questions about what provisions, if any, the developers have made for existing occupants of the site.

The development has had a turbulent journey to this point. Buckinghamshire Council rejected the original planning application in May 2024, citing unacceptable harm to the green belt and road infrastructure concerns. The government overturned that decision in November 2025 following a public inquiry, paving the way for the project to proceed.

Since then, the pace has quickened. Last month, Marlow Studios confirmed it had purchased the 230,700 sq ft Marlow International office building in Parkway as its early headquarters, with staff already on site and planning work underway. The company says it will include 18 soundstages, a training and skills academy and creative workspace, with promises of more than 4,000 jobs across film, TV, technology and supporting sectors.

Campaign group Save Marlow's Greenbelt, which has opposed the development throughout, continues to raise concerns about transparency. In March, the group criticised a meeting between the developers and Marlow Town Council as something that "should not be held behind closed doors".

Marlow Studios says full community and councillor engagement will take place as set out in its planning commitments. Further announcements are expected as the project progresses through 2026.