Plans for a major housing development have been blocked following opposition from Twickenham Film Studios and its supporters, including Vanessa Redgrave.

The application for the site next to the historic studios in St Margarets involved building two blocks of flats including 24 apartments and commercial buildings.

Redgrave, Oscar-winning actress and activist, was among a coalition of film industry leaders and local residents who opposed the plan, which was seen as a threat to the future of the studios.

She pointed out that her father, Sir Michael Redgrave, had filmed at Twickenham Film Studios both before and during Second World War.

His productions included The Stars Look Down, a film about injustices in a mining town in North East England which involved recreating an elaborate pithead on the site.

The housing scheme for the Arlington Works site was rejected by Richmond Borough Council, however the developers appealed and a public planning inquiry was held earlier this year on Zoom.

Nub News has now learned that the planning inspector has rejected the appeal, which should kill off the building plan.

The decision has fuelled hopes that the Twickenham Film Studios, which has a long history of Oscars success, will pursue a bid to buy the land as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment.

It has already announced a £15 million project to transform the existing site, which includes the construction of a new entrance building on the St Margarets Road at its junction with The Barons.

It will include a café and heritage centre open to the public, which will allow people to understand the remarkable part the studios have played in the British film industry and the many famous and successful films it has been involved in - from silent movies through to Netflix.

There will also be a new hub for the creative industries, with workspaces for rent. Significantly, there will be a new TV studio with audience seating for up to 150 people, together with refurbished film and sound production studios.

Redgrave, who used to have an office on the film studios site, wrote a letter opposing the housing development and supporting the expansion of the studios.

She said: "Twickenham Film Studios is the oldest working film studio in the United Kingdom. I am very proud that my father Sir Michael Redgrave filmed here prior to and during the Second World War.

"It would be wonderful if the studios could expand their services which are in great demand.

"Demand for Film Studios' capacities is very great and growing.

"We believe Twickenham Studios as a growing and extremely successful commercial enterprise, is an important feature for Twickenham and the borough of Richmond Upon Thames along with the great economic footfall it brings that benefits the surrounding shops, cafés, restaurants and other businesses.

"We can emphasise with some authority that Twickenham Studios a historic international landmark for film industry and one that the Borough can be justly proud of."

The Studios, which were established in 1913, have a rich history of success through from gritty dramas such as Alfie to Beatles' hits such as A Hard Day's Night and Help through to Shirley Valentine and, more recently, its work on Bohemian Rhapsody and the World War One drama, 1917.

In his ruling rejecting the housing plan, the planning inspector, Peter Rose, said it was important to retain the industrial use of the site, particularly in the context of the offer it from Twickenham Film Studios.

He wrote: "The scheme would involve a significant loss of industrial floorspace and land and for which the development plan and accompanying evidence indicate a real and up-to-date need.

"The proposed development would be harmful to the character and appearance of the appeal site and the surrounding area."

He added: "The site should remain available for industrial use in accordance with the development plan policies … and that definition would allow for any ambitions of Twickenham Studios as well as other qualifying industrial activities."

The planning application was made by the site owner Sharpe Refinery Service Ltd. The company's planning agent did not respond to requests for a comment.