Amazon MGM Studios – Bray

Planning for Growth at a Historic Film Studio

Amazon MGM Studios needed planning consent for the redevelopment and expansion of Bray Studios, including new sound stages, production facilities, parking, access improvements and landscape works. Amazon MGM Studios commissioned Nicholas Pearson Associates to provide a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA)  and Verified Views to support a major planning application. Our appointment built on our extensive previous involvement at Bray Studios. We acted as landscape architects, LVIA consultants and visualisation specialists for the masterplan approved by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 2022. This long-standing knowledge of the site, its planning history and its landscape context placed us in a strong position to support the new owners, project team and Local Planning Authority through the next phase of the Bray Studios redevelopment.

Understanding Views Along the Thames and Historic Setting

The key challenge was assessing substantial new studio buildings within a well-known riverside landscape. The assessment centred on the setting of Down Place House, a Grade II listed 18th-century mansion. The project required careful consideration of views from public rights of way, local roads and the River Thames corridor. River users experience the landscape from a moving perspective, which added an additional layer of complexity. We needed to understand potential effects on landscape character, visual amenity and heritage setting whilst supporting an evolving design process. At the same time, the assessment needed to inform ongoing dialogue with the Local Planning Authority during pre-application discussions.

Integrating Assessment and Visualisation Throughout Design Development

We worked closely with RIOS, Scott Brownrigg, Nexus and Donald Insall Associates throughout the design and planning process. Rather than treating the LVIA as a standalone assessment, we integrated landscape assessment and visualisation into the development of the Bray Studios proposals.

Building on our role in securing planning consent for the previous Bray Studios masterplan, we provided continuity throughout the assessment process. Our earlier involvement gave us a detailed understanding of the site’s landscape setting, planning history and key visual sensitivities. As a result, we were able to identify potential landscape, visual and heritage issues from the outset and support the new owners efficiently.

Our approach combined site appraisal, viewpoint selection, landscape assessment and the preparation of verified visual montages in accordance with recognised industry guidance. We prepared interim visualisations as designs developed. This allowed the project team and Local Planning Authority to review emerging proposals. In addition, we attended site visits with Planning Officers and coordinated supplementary visual material where additional viewpoints were requested. This helped the project team understand likely landscape and visual effects throughout the development process.

Verified Views for the Bray Studios Redevelopment

Our work demonstrated the value of combining Environmental Design expertise with accurate visual communication. The principal outputs were a comprehensive Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and a suite of verified visual montages that accompanied the planning application.

We liaised closely with RIOS to ensure that proposed buildings, materials and landscape proposals were accurately represented within the visualisations. Consequently, the verified views allowed the design team to review how the development would appear from key receptors. The visual material also informed refinements to planting proposals and landscape integration measures.

During the pre-application stage, we commissioned drone footage to explore the potential for dynamic visualisations from over the River Thames. The design team used this material during design development discussions to explore how the Bray Studios redevelopment might be experienced from the water. The footage also assisted communication with the Local Planning Authority. In addition, we produced supplementary summer visualisations and additional viewpoints to support heritage evaluation by Donald Insall Associates.

Using Visual Evidence to Inform Planning Discussions

The combination of landscape assessment and verified visualisation helped communicate the potential effects of the Bray Studios redevelopment at an early stage. We found that presenting visual material alongside assessment findings supported informed discussion of landscape, visual and heritage considerations.

The visualisations enabled comparison between existing and proposed conditions from agreed viewpoints. Meanwhile, the LVIA provided a structured assessment of likely effects. Together, these outputs helped the Local Planning Authority understand the proposals as design work progressed. They also allowed the wider project team to test and refine aspects of the scheme. In addition, the visual material supported heritage specialists in their assessment of the setting of Down Place House and the wider landscape.

Supporting the Bray Studio Planning Submission

Our work supported pre-application dialogue with the Local Planning Authority and informed several design refinements as the Bray Studios masterplan evolved. The LVIA and verified visual montage package formed part of the planning application submitted in July 2026 and were successfully validated.

The project demonstrates how landscape assessment and high-quality visualisation can support design development, improve communication and provide robust evidence for major planning applications. As a result, the design team was able to present a clear and coordinated assessment package to accompany the Bray Studios redevelopment proposals. At the time of writing, the application remains under consideration by the Local Planning Authority.

Please contact us to discuss how our team can help you with your next project.