Culture Minster Ed Vaizey joined the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at the formal opening of Warner Bros’ studios in Leavesdon, Hertfordshire, today.

The £100 million facility, home of all 8 Harry Potter Films, James Bond’s Goldeneye and Star Wars Episode 1 – Phantom Menace, is the only one in the UK owned by a Major Hollywood studio brand.

The venue boasts half a million square feet of stage space, more than 100 acres of terrain and also features The Making of Harry Potter attraction, which opened last year.

Warner Bros contributes more than £1 billion per year to the British economy, according to a report by the London School of Economics. The BFI’s Film Forever plan for 2012-2017 states the UK film industry supported 117,400 jobs in 2011.

Ed Vaizey said: “The facilities at Warner Bros Leavesden Studios are truly remarkable. Warner Bros’ investment is testament to the fantastic skills of those working here in the industry and the great business environment we have worked so hard to create.

“The UK film industry is one of our greatest success stories and developments like this are pivotal in continuing to attract investment from around the world, cementing our place as a world leader in film production.”

Further information

• Our role in supporting the British film industry
• More on the new Warner Bros’ studios in Leavesdon, Hertfordshire