In January 2010 planners Terence O’Rourke Ltd, acting on behalf of Warner Bros., submitted a planning application consisting of 131 documents to Three Rivers District council.  The plans detail Warner Bros. intentions to purchase the Leavesden site they currently rent and develop it into a permanent UK base for the major film studio.

In April 2010 the plans were given the green light so Leaveseden studios will be expanded making Warner the only major US studio with to own a studio abroad.

The development is reported to cost in the region of £100 million and involves two new stages and the creation of a visitor centre employing 118 people.   However Warner have said that the facility will be open for pre-booked tour parties only and will not become a major visitor attraction (car parking spaces are limited to 600).  Despite this the local newspaper has reported that a “Harry Potter themed visitor attraction” could cater for “up to 5,000 visitors a day”.

Submitted plans are available online here.