Amazon MGM Studios has submitted formal expansion plans for Bray Film Studios, the historic production facility located 26 miles west of London in Berkshire, revealing ambitious blueprints to nearly double the studio’s operational capacity. The planning application was filed July 14-15, 2026, with the Royal Borough planning authority, marking the next phase of Amazon’s investment in UK production infrastructure following its 2024 acquisition of the facility. The expansion represents a significant commitment to expanding premium content production in the UK, with the company pledging £1.74 billion in economic contributions over the first decade of operation.
The expansion will introduce six new sound stages and four workshop buildings to the campus, alongside permanent conversion of six existing temporary sound stages currently on the site. This coordinated development will increase total stage space to approximately 20,000 square meters, enabling Bray to accommodate simultaneous filming of two independent productions—a capability the facility does not currently possess. For context, the studio currently operates five sound stages comprising 53,600 square feet, along with 77,400 square feet of workshop space, making the planned additions roughly proportional to doubling key production infrastructure.
Official resource:
- Bray Film Studios Design and Access Statement — Formal Planning Document — Review the official Design and Access Statement submitted to Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead detailing expansion specifications, facility layouts, and impact assessments.
Table of Contents
- What Amazon Plans to Build at Bray Film Studios
- Capacity Transformation and Simultaneous Production Model
- Why Amazon is Investing at Bray Rather Than Building Elsewhere
- Employment and Economic Contributions During Construction and Operation
- Timeline and Regulatory Approval Complexity
- Heritage Preservation as a Project Component
- Current Production Activity and Facility Utilization
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Amazon Plans to Build at Bray Film Studios
The expansion blueprint includes discrete categories of new construction designed to modernize the facility while maintaining operational continuity. Four entirely new workshop buildings will provide additional production infrastructure for set construction, prop manufacturing, and technical support operations. Six brand-new sound stages will join the facility’s current five, while a separate component of the project involves converting existing temporary sound stages into permanent structures—a decision that signals Amazon’s confidence in sustained demand for UK-based production capacity.
The architectural scope reflects contemporary studio requirements rather than simply adding empty boxes. The planning documentation emphasizes refurbishment of the historic main building, which will be repurposed as production offices, preserving the character of Bray’s heritage structures while integrating them into modern production workflows. This approach avoids the pitfall common to some studio expansions, where new construction overwhelms historic sites or creates disconnected campus environments.
Capacity Transformation and Simultaneous Production Model
The most consequential change embedded in these expansion plans is the shift from single-production to dual-production capability. Currently, Bray operates as a venue for one major film or television series at a time, limiting revenue potential and scheduling flexibility. The expansion directly addresses this constraint by doubling stage availability and adding supporting workshop capacity. Once complete, the facility could theoretically host Rings of Power and Citadel simultaneously, or rotate between different productions across a working calendar.
This dual-production model comes with practical limitations. Simultaneous shoots demand separate crews, equipment inventories, and post-production workflows—not merely additional sound stages. Power infrastructure, parking, loading docks, and water systems must scale accordingly, though the planning application provides limited detail on these mechanical systems. Furthermore, achieving true simultaneous production requires productions to arrive with aligned schedules, which depends on upstream development and greenlight decisions beyond the studio’s control.
Why Amazon is Investing at Bray Rather Than Building Elsewhere
Amazon’s acquisition of Bray in 2024 preceded any announced expansion, suggesting the studio was selected for inherent advantages beyond real estate availability. The facility’s proximity to London—26 miles distant—provides access to UK film talent, crew networks, and post-production services without isolation in remote locations. Bray’s existing infrastructure, including accommodations for major productions like Rings of Power, reduced acquisition costs compared to building a new studio from bare land.
The expansion also reflects strategic layering within Amazon’s UK footprint. Beyond Bray’s planned 20,000 square meters, Amazon maintains an exclusive long-term contract for nine sound stages at Shepperton Studios, representing approximately 450,000 square feet of additional stage space. This portfolio approach allows Amazon to distribute workloads across complementary facilities and manage risk if any single location experiences supply chain disruptions or regulatory delays. For competing platforms like Netflix, which has similarly expanded UK production infrastructure, this strategy mirrors distributed studio networks rather than single-facility dependence.
Employment and Economic Contributions During Construction and Operation
The expansion projects specific employment figures across multiple economic layers. During the construction phase, the project will generate 470 jobs at the local level around Bray and environs, with 920 total jobs across Berkshire as supply chain and support roles activate. Beyond construction, the expanded facility is projected to support 3,285 full-time jobs across the UK supply chain—encompassing equipment rental companies, post-production facilities, catering services, and transportation providers that service major film and television productions.
The £1.74 billion projected contribution to the UK economy over the first decade of operation carries important caveats. This figure includes indirect and induced economic activity—spending by production employees, equipment suppliers, and local businesses dependent on studio traffic. It does not represent profit, tax revenue, or shareholder returns, but rather gross economic circulation. The calculation assumes continuous operation at planned capacity with consistent production volume, a scenario vulnerable to fluctuations in platform content strategy, production budgets, or competitive pressures that could alter Amazon’s UK output.
Timeline and Regulatory Approval Complexity
The planning process has already consumed substantial time prior to formal application. A public consultation period ran April 30 through May 10, 2026, allowing local residents and stakeholders to register feedback on the expansion before formal determination. The planning authority is expected to render a decision in autumn 2026, meaning the expansion remains several months from approval as of July 2026.
The delay between application and expected determination is instructive: even a facility with established operations, committed ownership, and community investment faces a multi-month approval cycle for expansions of this scale. Environmental assessments, traffic studies, and heritage considerations require investigation before planning committees can vote. Approval is not assured; local objections regarding traffic, visual impact, or other concerns could delay approval further or impose conditions that alter the project scope. The historic nature of the Bray campus adds weight to heritage considerations that might be waived for entirely new construction.
Heritage Preservation as a Project Component
Bray Film Studios holds listed building status and sits within a conservation area, constraints that shape expansion possibilities. Rather than relocating production functions entirely to new structures, Amazon’s plan includes restoration of the historic main building for use as production offices. This integration approach acknowledges that the facility’s heritage character carries value—both regulatory and practical—worth preserving.
The refurbishment decision reflects a broader industry recognition that historic film studios represent irreplaceable infrastructure. Denham Studios, Pinewood, and Shepperton—other major UK facilities—similarly balance heritage preservation with modern equipment and capacity demands. Amazon’s commitment to restoring rather than replacing the historic core suggests the company intends Bray as a long-term anchor in its UK production strategy rather than a temporary facility awaiting eventual abandonment.
Current Production Activity and Facility Utilization
Rings of Power has filmed at Bray since January 2022, transforming the facility into a sustained production base for one of Amazon’s flagship series. The facility’s proven ability to accommodate this massive production—with its scale, technical demands, and multi-year commitment—validated the acquisition decision and demonstrated Bray’s operational reliability.
Citadel Season 2 began filming in September 2024, introducing a second major production to the campus while Rings of Power continued work, even within the current single-production-at-a-time constraints. These existing commitments will likely migrate into the expanded facility once construction completes. The expansion essentially provides headroom for Amazon’s current UK content slate to grow without external constraints, while enabling the company to accept or greenlight additional projects that would previously have faced facility bottlenecks.
- —
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Bray Film Studios expansion be completed?
The planning approval process is expected to conclude in autumn 2026. Construction timelines are not publicly specified, but major studio expansion projects typically require 18-36 months for full completion depending on phasing.
How much larger will the sound stage capacity be after expansion?
Current stage space (53,600 square feet) will increase to approximately 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) with the six new stages and conversion of temporary structures, roughly quadrupling stage footprint.
What productions are currently using Bray Film Studios?
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has filmed there continuously since January 2022. Citadel Season 2 began production at the facility in September 2024.
Will the historic buildings at Bray be demolished?
No. Amazon’s expansion plan specifically includes refurbishment of the historic main building for use as production offices, preserving the facility’s heritage character.
How many jobs will the expansion create?
During construction, 470 local jobs and 920 jobs across Berkshire are projected. Once operational, the expanded facility is estimated to support 3,285 full-time UK jobs across the supply chain.
What is Amazon’s broader UK studio strategy beyond Bray?
Amazon also maintains an exclusive long-term contract for nine sound stages at Shepperton Studios, representing approximately 450,000 square feet of additional capacity, indicating a distributed network approach rather than dependence on a single facility.
