West London’s historic Maida Vale Studios might get a new “state of the art” makeover led by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who became co-owner of the site last year. The former BBC site, located on Delaware Road, was sold by the broadcaster to Zimmer and others . The partnership – Working Title Films chairmen Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, and Zimmer’s business partner Steven Kofsky – have shared plans for Maida Vale Studios ahead of an expected planning permission application to Westminster City Council.
MVS Partnership LLP are yet to submit a formal planning application to the council, according to . However, the Zimmer Group has already begun a consultation on a “retrofit-first refurbishment” approach seeking to minimise carbon emissions and bring high-tech upgrades to the historic venue, reports. Further refurbishment plans include adding editing facilities, new planting and seating areas outside, composer rooms, on-site food and drink stations for staff and customers and around 42,000 square feet of creative workspace.
The Zimmer Group have also proposed the renovated studios will be fully electric and use energy-efficient lighting to reduce its carbon footprint. The consultation says the refurbishment of the Grade II listed premises would continue to be of “national importance to UK and creative industries”. It continues: “This [sic] proposed upgrades will set new benchmarks for excellence in British film and music post-production, fostering the creation of new jobs, driving innovation, and promoting industry investment.
” Geoff Barraclough, a cabinet member and councillor for Maida Vale, says: “We’re delighted that Maida Vale Studios’ long history will continue under new ownership. We are particularly pleased they will be working closely with Westminster council’s new North Paddington Creative Enterprise Zone, which will give local young talent the chance to work in this wonderful new facility.” He continues: “As with any planning application, there will be plenty of details to examine before the scheme is approved and we will want to ensure that local residents don’t suffer during the building works.
” Maida Vale Studios was first bought by the BBC in 1993 and has hosted a range of outstanding artists including The Beatles, Beyoncé, Elton John and Hans Zimmer. Now, under new ownership, the German film composer recalls working at Maida Vale nearly 45 years ago. “I still remember the strong pull, the desire to touch the walls, as if that would somehow allow me to connect to the artists whose extraordinary music had resonated against these walls on a daily basis,” he tells the .
“This was a place of revolutionary science in the service of art, this was a place that inspired you to give your best, where music was performed around the clock and art was taken seriously. For the people by the people. This was the place that kept a struggling musician like me from giving up.
” His plan for the newly refurbished Maida Vale Studios is “[to] make [it] a place that inspires, teaches, technologically serves the arts and humanity, and gives the next generation the same opportunities I was given: to create and to never give up”..
