Impact of Star Wars filming revealed

Dorset's disused Winspit Quarry near Worth Matravers, was used as a film-set in 2021

The filming of part of a Star Wars series on Dorset's Jurassic Coast raised some concerns, but was not noticed by most, a study has found.

The disused Winspit Quarry near Worth Matravers in Dorset was used as a set for the Disney+ Star Wars series Andor in 2021.

Dr Rebecca Harrison, from the Open University's Film and Media department, examined the impact of the site being used for a location shoot, as part of a study into the effects TV and film production has on the environment and local communities.

The study found concerns were raised about public access around the site being restricted during filming and the possibility of Star Wars-related tourism.

Diego Luna is the star of the Andor series

Fourteen filming location sites across the UK were examined as part of the Environmental Impact of Filmmaking (EIF) study.

Findings were based on field trips, surveys of communities in areas near to Star Wars shoots and interviews with local residents as well as ecologists and industry figures.

Andor was a prequel to the 2016 spin-off film Rogue One, and follows main character Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna.

Film crews had planned to use Winspit Quarry a second time in 2023 but this was cancelled over concerns about landslips.

There were nine responses relating to the Purbeck film shoot.

They included complaints about recreational public access to the site which was sealed off during filming.

There were also concerns about a potential increase in Star Wars-related tourism to the area, which one respondent did not think had suitable infrastructure to accommodate.

Another participant however, suggested there hadn't been any discernible change to tourism levels since Winspit appeared in the Andor series.

Dr Harrison said: "Most people didn't notice anything at all - which raises questions about whether local communities should be informed and get a say."

At the time of the filming, Worth Matravers Parish Council said the crew had been "very considerate" in their use of the area.

The disused quarry near Swanage forms part of the Jurassic Coast

Winspit is a nationally-important swarming site for colonies of bats and crews had to operate within existing nature-protection guidelines, the report found.

It said local ecologists were consulted during Andor's production, with changes to the crew's plans being requested to prevent disruption to bat colonies - such as no smoke machines or fire allowed in the caves.

Among the overall recommendations, the study called for specific community and wildlife training for production teams, new liaison roles and good-practice guidelines for production teams in dealing with local communities and filming sites.

Dr Harrison said: "It's critical that film and TV crews establish better practices to protect communities and wild lives during location shoots."

Winspit Quarry provided stone for many of the major buildings in London, with stone quarried from the cliff face and mined until the 1940s.

It was used for previous TV productions, including a 1979 episode of Doctor Who, Destiny of the Daleks, staring Tom Baker. which used the quarry to represent the Dalek's home planet of Skaro.

An episode of sci-fi drama Blake's 7 called Games was also shot on the site in 1981.