Oscar-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston worked on the likes of Back to the Future

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Hollywood costume designer – Joanna Johnston – plans studio in a Wiltshire barn

Paul JonesFebruary 23, 20240 Comment0

COSTUMES for Hollywood blockbusters could soon be designed in the hills of Wiltshire if a planning application is approved.

Oscar-nominated Joanna Johnston – famed for her design work on the likes of Back To The Future, Forrest Gump, Love Actually and War Horse – has applied for permission to create a design studio in Donhead St Mary.

The plans, submitted to Wiltshire Council by RAW Planning, would see a barn owned by Ms Johnston in around 14 acres of pasture land off Church Hill converted into a “creative design studio”.

A barn in Donhead St Mary would be converted into a studio. Picture: RAW Planning/Wiltshire Council

“Ms Johnston largely works alone, but from time to time requires an assistant and as such the traffic movements would be negligible,” the application said.

“The design ethos is to retain an agricultural feel to the barn with no formal landscaping or external lighting.”

“Clients, on occasion, need to visit the archives and to view the costumes and as such, some meetings would be hosted there,” the application went on.

“The scale of the barn would remain unchanged, other than the removal of a small section in the corner of the buildings to create an entrance,” it added.

A model of the proposed remodelled barn studio. Picture: RAW Planning/Wiltshire Council

“Internally, on the ground floor, the design provides the studio on the eastern side of the building (to benefit from natural light); a presentation room; kitchen; WC; archive and fitting room.

“A first floor would be created to accommodate a storage area along with a laundry/drying area and an office.”

Residents had been invited to view the plans, the application said, with around 15 people viewing the proposals.

“It was considered by the client team following the event, that the ethos and design aspirations along with minimal impact (number of people) using the building and working hours were accepted by the residents as a respectful and thought-through scheme,” it added.