M3 Travellers - Longcross

[FredAstaire]

The other day I noticed, through a gap in the trees a nice looking old house, up in the trees above the longcross track. It was the crane next to it that drew my attention.

I'd never noticed the house before. Despite travelling past it 5 days a week since 2001 (drepressing!).

The house has got a green dome/belltower of some sort and I've been poring over google maps and can't find it.

So i'm wondering if its a film or tv set they have built, as I know theres a film studio there. If it is a set its very convincing. I thought that kind of thing would be done in CGI nowadays or at least they'd find a suitable national trust place or something.

And if it is real and has been there all the time how come i've never seen it before - i must need my eyes testing.

So - is it a film set, or is it real?

[anonymous-user]

Probably something at Longcross Studios.

[Cats]

I saw that suddenly appear but it looks pretty real to me. Probably one of the local Saudi royalty pads - for holidays of course

[Jagmanv12]

The open area of the studios is about 150-200 yards from the M3 (on the southern side) in the middle of the test track.

The local house that is owned by the Crown Prince of Dubai does not have a green dome. At least not the last time I drove passed.
Also there's a fair amount of trees between the house and the M3, so I doubt if the house is visible from the M3.

Mock ups for films have to be convincing so it would look real.

[Planet Claire]

I saw this for the very first time this afternoon going down the M3, but I was on the look out after reading your post. Never seen it before despite all my journeys down there, daily at one time.

I can only conclude it is a film set, although it does look pretty real, but I guess it has to! I suspect the crane is there to build it. As you say, there's nothing on Google so it's a recent development.

[Cats]

Doesn't appear to be accessible from Kitsmead Lane which would be the nearest point

[anonymous-user]

Just had a look at the site on Google.
You'll never guess what else is hiding there....

[Mr Tidy]

I saw that today as well - probably because I was looking for it!

Didn't see the Millenium Falcon though!

[The Dangerous Elk]

Mr Tidy said:

I saw that today as well - probably because I was looking for it!

Didn't see the Millenium Falcon though!

Cloaked

[anonymous-user]

Looks like it's pretty well barricaded behind double-stacked shipping containers, presumably to stop souvenir hunters.
Saw the "house" in question properly for the first time yesterday. Definitely on the backlot at Longcross, besides, if someone could afford to build mansion like that I'm pretty sure it would be further from the M3.
The exposed/incomplete parts of the structure look fairly superficial too. Not built to last.

[FredAstaire]

it looks very convincing to me - i find it surprising that nowadays they wouldn't just do it in CGI

[anonymous-user]

Guess it all depends on how central it is to the plot of whatever's being filmed and thus how many shots it appears in.

[Vixpy1]

There is the old officers mess on the golf couse at longcross, its a fairly substantial buillding and is often used as an old house on TV

[silverfoxcc]

from someone 'who sometimes works there,( o/t he has some stunning pics of the loco in the ne Murder on the orient ecpress)

Not sure...there is a fantasy film in production at Longcross called Artemis Fowl, whether the house has anything to do with it I'm not sure...The studio recently sold off part of the land for development, I believe that there is a new 'village' being created on the land and that houses have been started.

[Vixpy1]

silverfoxcc said:

The studio recently sold off part of the land for development, I believe that there is a new 'village' being created on the land and that houses have been started.

Nope, the developers own the studio, it was done to make money while they waited for planning, they now have planning for part of the site, the rest will follow in a few years

[anonymous-user]

Vixpy1 said:

silverfoxcc said:

The studio recently sold off part of the land for development, I believe that there is a new 'village' being created on the land and that houses have been started.

Nope, the developers own the studio, it was done to make money while they waited for planning, they now have planning for part of the site, the rest will follow in a few years

What was done to make money, and the rest of what will follow in a few years?

[Vixpy1]

Crossflow Kid said:

Vixpy1 said:

silverfoxcc said:

The studio recently sold off part of the land for development, I believe that there is a new 'village' being created on the land and that houses have been started.

Nope, the developers own the studio, it was done to make money while they waited for planning, they now have planning for part of the site, the rest will follow in a few years

What was done to make money, and the rest of what will follow in a few years?

the studio, and the houses

[anonymous-user]

Vixpy1 said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Vixpy1 said:

silverfoxcc said:

The studio recently sold off part of the land for development, I believe that there is a new 'village' being created on the land and that houses have been started.

Nope, the developers own the studio, it was done to make money while they waited for planning, they now have planning for part of the site, the rest will follow in a few years

What was done to make money, and the rest of what will follow in a few years?

the studio, and the houses

The studio was done to make money and the rest of the houses will follow in a few years?
Can you explain in more than single words?

[Vixpy1]

Crossflow Kid said:

Vixpy1 said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Vixpy1 said:

silverfoxcc said:

The studio recently sold off part of the land for development, I believe that there is a new 'village' being created on the land and that houses have been started.

Nope, the developers own the studio, it was done to make money while they waited for planning, they now have planning for part of the site, the rest will follow in a few years

What was done to make money, and the rest of what will follow in a few years?

the studio, and the houses

The studio was done to make money and the rest of the houses will follow in a few years?
Can you explain in more than single words?

Developers buy site

can't get planning

open it as a studio in meantime to get a return on investment

get planning for some houses

when planning for rest of site comes through, studio will close

[anonymous-user]

Thank you.