Piers Read (left) and Jeremy Rainbird (right) “People told us we were mad,” says Rainbird, recalling the reaction to their audacious plans to build a network of studios fitted with state-of-the-art technology. “They said it’s not a proven asset class; it’s high risk. And now look at it. Now it’s the golden child, the chosen one, the cherry on the cake of property and suddenly it’s cool.” Leading the charge in this crusade is the pair’s three-year-old business, The Creative District Improvement Company (TCDI Co). Last month, it submitted plans for the £15m redevelopment of the iconic Twickenham Studios, where scenes for Blade Runner, The Italian Job and Zulu were shot, and it is currently working up plans to deliver new studio facilities at heritage sites in Ashford and Liverpool.