Decision to permanently close Bovingdon Market for film and TV studios delayed

A crunch decision on whether to build three new film and TV studios on the site of Bovingdon Market has been delayed.

Dacorum Borough Council’s Planning Committee was due to discuss the proposals at a meeting on Thursday, September 2, but councillors didn’t have time to hear the application as the meeting continued into the late hours of the night.

As there were no public speakers in attendance to speak about the Bovingdon proposals, other applications were heard first to ensure those could be decided before the 10.30pm cut-off.

The council meeting started at 7pm.

The decision will now be made at a later meeting of the Planning Committee, with the next scheduled for Thursday, September 23.

The plans would see three new permanent film studios built on Bovingdon Airfield and the creation of a new ‘backlot space’ which could house temporary structures.

According to its application, approval would lead to the closure of Bovingdon Market, which has been trading on the former RAF airfield for more than 40 years.

The backlot space for temporary filming would be on the current stretch of land used for the market, and the application said that the market would be closed within 18 months of approval being granted.

In their objection to the plans, the market’s operators Wendy Fair Markets said they will “resist all attempts” to close, and said that it was “unclear” how the applicant would legally be able to stop the market operating.