Achi news desk-
The base – also known as Forthside Barracks – was built as an ordnance depot in 1899. It was bought by Stirling Council for £5 million in March this year and is now set to be transformed into a busy production facility for the small screens and money.
Experts have assessed that there is currently 100,000 square feet of studio space and 110,000 square feet for production, logistics and office space on the site, which together comprises 360 acres.
The site will remain owned by Stirling Council, but an operator will be appointed to run the studios and the project hopes to attract UK and global productions.
Chief Executive Carol Beattie said she was confident about the future success of the studios, following “extremely positive” feedback from industry figures.
He said: “In a previous role as Creative Industries Director for Scottish Development International, I knew there was still an opening for more production space in Scotland. At that point, I spent time in London talking to the British Film Commission and studio operators such as Pinewood, Three Mills and Warner Brothers to understand the specifications of a good site.
“When I saw the unique premises and location at Forthside, I saw it as a great fit, which has since been confirmed through our close consultation with the industry, including Screen Scotland.”
The project has been supported by repurposing a portion of the £19m grant secured by the council from the UK Government’s Level Up Fund (LUF) for the redevelopment and regeneration of Forthside.
Stirling Council Leader Cllr Chris Kane said the studio could be “truly transformative” for the area.
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He said: “We have an opportunity to root an industry in our city which will bring thousands of highly skilled jobs, put us on the global creative map and give the region a significant economic boost over many decades.
“By making innovative use of the existing buildings on a former military site, we are creating a studio campus that will provide everything film producers need to meet the demands of a thriving sector.
“Students in our schools, college and University will be able to pursue creative careers here in Stirling which in the past would have meant having to consider leaving to pursue opportunities elsewhere.”
He added: “I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work to get to this point. We are determined to seize the moment for the people of Stirling and realize the benefits of this ambitious project.”
Some of the buildings already on the site will be retained and refurbished for the high quality film and television campus.
The rest of the land will be redeveloped and cleared.
The site has already been used as a filming location which will provide valuable experiences and lessons to serve high quality productions in the future, said Stirling Council.
John Lamont, UK Government Minister for Scotland, added: “Scotland and the UK are a true film and TV production success story and the creation of Stirling Studios will add to the portfolio of high quality content being produced production on these shores is great news.
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“I am delighted that £24 million of UK Government funding is helping Stirling Council to purchase and redevelop the former Ministry of Defense Forthside site. The jobs and economy boosting regeneration that will follow will provide opportunities great for the region.
“The UK Government is committed to ensuring that Scotland and the wider UK remains an attractive location for first class film and television productions. That’s why we’ve supported our world-leading creative industries with £1 billion in tax breaks. We are investing £72 million to level Stirling and Clackmannanshire and more than £3 billion across Scotland.”
Isabel Davis, Executive Director of Screen Scotland, said: “The location of the Stirling site and the potential to turn it into a studio is extremely promising. Scotland has recently seen significant growth in productions seeking to access its internationally recognized cast and crew, as well as its versatile natural and built environments.
“This new site will only add to Scotland’s significant offer as a filming destination. Working with Stirling Council on this over the last few months, we have been very encouraged by the visionary approach the team there have taken to get to this stage, including the opportunity to grow the base local crew. We look forward to continuing to work with them towards the realization of the project.”
