Further details of the expansion plans for Shepperton Studios have been unveiled.

The facility has lodged a planning application with Spelthorne Borough Council for a £500m private sector redevelopment that would see an increase in stage space and related support facilities of around 465,000 sq ft.

The scale of the development means Shepperton would be on a par with its sister site, Pinewood Studios, which is also currently undergoing expansion.

Building the new footprint of Shepperton could generate more than 1,500 permanent local jobs with 837 jobs per year being created during the construction phase. A total of 2,796 jobs could be created and sustained overall.

Recent high-profile features to have filmed at Shepperton include The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, Mary Poppins Returns and Christopher Robin.

Plans are underway around the UK for new studio facilities as well as the expansion of existing sites as demand grows.

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission and Film London, said: “Inward investment from the production of major feature films and high-end TV dramas reached record levels in the UK in 2017.

“International feature films spent £1.69bn in the UK – the highest figure since records began and a 23% increase on 2016. However, the UK”s increased popularity as a filming destination means that a significant increase in studio capacity is now more essential than ever.

“Additional purpose-built studio space, together with an ongoing focus on skills development, is now crucial in order for us to continue to compete for major multi-million-dollar feature films and TV projects which have such a hugely positive impact on investment, employment and tax revenue for both local economies and for UK plc.”

Christopher Robin photo via Laurie Sparham/Disney.