Pinewood”s long-standing ambition to expand may have been dealt a terminal blow after secretary of state for communities and local government Eric Pickles vetoed its plans.

Pinewood says it is disappointed with the decision, having previously also been turned down by planners at South Buckinghamshire District Council.

Pinewood thought it was going to get a favourable decision when PM David Cameron appeared to back the scheme. But the decision went for the landscape lobby with Pickles” dept saying: “The loss of openness would not only be visually apparent, but would all but destroy the concept of the site as part of open Green Belt land.”

Pinewood says the proposed expansion would have contributed £3.8bn to the economy over the next 30 years and created almost 1,000 jobs in the next decade. Its recourse now would be a legal challenge.