Expansion proposal for Ardmore Studios
DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE FOR LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTIONS
Wednesday March 10 2010
PLANS TO develop a new film studio in Ashford could be preempted by expanding the existing studios in Bray.
A site behind Ardmore Studios called 'Reithills Land,' is suitable for development to facilitate large-scale productions according to Cllr. John Ryan, Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council.
Bray councillors on Wicklow County Council vented their anger in December, saying they had been kept in the dark about a planning application to build large studios on the land.
Vibeke Delahunt of the Wicklow Film Commission has since confirmed that Morgan O'Sullivan's 'Camelot,' following smash-hit series 'The Tudors', will not be filmed at Ardmore due to space restrictions.
Similarly, a tourist attraction in the style of Universal Studios would not be possible at the Bray facility as it is too small.
The planning application by World 2000 Entertainment received conditional planning permission from Wicklow county Council and will see a warehouse in Ballyhenry, Ashford, being allowed to be used as a film-making facility together with use of adjoining Wicklow County Council lands for purposes ancillary to film-making.
- Mary FOGARTY
