The entertainment company said an additional 37,000 square metres of production and support space would be created. Alamy
The entertainment company said an additional 37,000 square metres of production and support space would be created. Alamy
The entertainment company said an additional 37,000 square metres of production and support space would be created. Alamy
The entertainment company said an additional 37,000 square metres of production and support space would be created. Alamy

Warner Bros to expand UK's Leavesden studios


Paul Carey
  • English
  • Arabic

Warner Bros plans to expand production capacity at its Leavesden studios near London by more than 50 per cent, becoming the home of DC Studios.

The move will add 10 new sound stages to the studios where much of the Barbie blockbuster and HBO's House of the Dragon were filmed.

The film company was also behind the Harry Potter film franchise and its fan tours are a significant tourist attraction.

The entertainment company said an additional 37,000 square metres of production and support space would be created.

The project is expected to create 4,000 “direct or indirect” jobs across Britain and grow Leavesdon's contribution to the UK economy by “more than £200 million”, Warner Bros Discovery said.

Ground breaking on the project is set to begin next year, with the expansion scheduled for completion in 2027.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt described the investment in the site as a “huge vote of confidence in the UK”.

“The enormous strength of our creative industries sees films and television shows made in the UK reaching cinemas and front rooms across the world, including Barbie and the House Of The Dragon series,” he said.

Margot Robbie as Barbie. Photo: Warner Bros
Margot Robbie as Barbie. Photo: Warner Bros

“Warner Bros Discovery’s ambitious plan to grow its Leavesden studio is a huge vote of confidence in the UK – creating thousands of jobs and growing our economy – and means that British-made entertainment will continue to delight and entertain global audiences.

“The UK ambition is to be the world's next Silicon Valley, and we think we're already Europe's technology and entertainment hub. And this is another step towards that.”

Simon Robinson, chief operating officer of Warner Bros Discovery Studios said the studios were globally recognised for their exceptional sound stages and facilities.

“With this planned expansion adding significant capacity and capabilities, it will be home to even more incredible storytelling for both film and television projects,” he said.

“We are proud to not only be growing our productions in Leavesden and making it the main hub for DC Studios, but also to be growing our economic and community contributions to the UK’s creative sector.”

The investment comes as Warner Bros Discovery's California production has been hit with the first joint writers' and actors' strikes in 63 years, delaying major projects and prompting it to slash revenue forecasts for the rest of this year.

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1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

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Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

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Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

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Updated: September 22, 2023, 12:11 PM