AN entrepreneur behind a bold bid to bring a Hollywood-style film studio to Bordon has admitted his "surprise" at a decision to build houses instead.

Nick Kennedy had hoped to set up the studio at the Louisburg Barracks when the Army moves out next year, but his dreams look to have been dashed as plans for a housing development on the site have been given the green light instead.

Mr Kennedy, who planned to build a "green, digital studio", said he was unaware of the housing concession, adding: "I'm still surprised as I am still in talks with the district council. I have been negotiating for the Louisburg site since I first spotted its potential more than three years ago."

The cost of building the green studio, complete with cutting-edge digital equipment, has been put at £300m. Mr Kennedy said he had investors ready to back him but the delay in securing planning permission forced them to pull out.

But he added: "I have others round the table and I still want to have my studio in the Whitehill-Bordon area."

For full story, see this week's Bordon Herald.