UPDATE: Its official - WB to buy Leavesden Studios

Only a select number have been able to visit the famous Harry Potter set of Leavesden Studios, but now it looks like Warner Brothers may open it up to visitors in the future. From the Financial Times:

A person familiar with the plans said Warner Brothers wants to make Leavesden a European hub for post-production, including visual effects, animatronics and film editing in the UK, and believes that it will attract film business to the country.

The proposal also includes a plan to allow members of the public to visit, by appointment, the sets of films made at Leavesden, including the great hall from the Harry Potter series.

The Great Hall is one of very few sets that have remained in tact at Leavesden since Philosopher's Stone filming. Other classic sets include Dumbledore's Office and the Gryffindor common room.

We will of course update you on any developments.

UPDATE: The official Warner Bros. Twitter account now confirms the report, saying, "Hey Potter Fans! WB is making a move to acquire and expand Leavesden Studios outside of London the home of the Harry Potter films!"

An application for planning permission to retain and refurbish the existing film production facilities at Leavesden Studios has been submitted by Warner Bros. to Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council.

The proposal would mark a multi-million pound investment by the Hollywood studio, which aims to secure the future of Leavesden's production studios and continue to provide important inward investment in the UK's film industry infrastructure.

The proposal includes the refurbishment and extension of the studios film production facilities increasing the ability to provide for services such as visual effects, prosthetics, animatronics and film editing as well as the expansion of the external filming and production areas.

The application also proposes an element of public access. By prior booking, visitors will be able to view for the very first time the original sets as they appeared in the films produced at Leavesden Studios. As well as preserving these extraordinary film sets, this will also celebrate the exceptional creativity and craftsmanship of the creators of these films and the UK film industry as a whole.

Leavesden Studios has been the UK production home for Warner Bros. and the Harry Potter films for the last decade as well as the base for other successful Warner Bros. films including Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and The Dark Knight. Over this time the studio's investment in the UK has accounted for 25-50% of the UK's inward investment in film production and this proposal would safeguard the employment associated with Warner Bros.' existing film production activities and provide a platform for employment growth and wider benefits within the local economy/local community.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson said: "Warner Bros. holds Leavesden Studios in the highest esteem as the home of our much-loved Harry Potter films. This proposal is central to our long-term plans to invest in the local production community, to create local and industry employment opportunities, and to continue the legacy of exceptional British filmmaking at Leavesden and across the UK. We look forward to continuing to cooperate with the Three Rivers and Watford Councils and with the local communities, as the project moves forward.