A new film studio has been announced to open in Forthside, Stirling.
Stirling Council is thrilled to declare the creation of ‘Stirling Studios,’ which is set to be amongst the biggest film studio campuses in Scotland.
The studios will be located on the former Ministry of Defence (MoD) land at Forthside which has been transferred to the Council through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.
£24 million of UK Government funding is helping Stirling Council to purchase and redevelop the former MoD Forthside site into the studios.
As an opportunity for major economic growth, it is estimated the project will create over 4,000 jobs in the following 25 years in a range of occupations, marking an opening for thousands of high-skilled jobs and opportunities.
This wide range extends farther than just actors or directors, creating work opportunities for other needed industry experts, such as skilled workforce of joiners, scaffolders, lighting and electrical engineers, costume designers, hairdressers, and more.
Their work is critical in this sector, and Stirling’s historical strengths in these areas provide a unique opportunity for growth in the industry.
Chief Executive Carol Beattie is confident about the future success of the studios.
She said: “In a previous role as Director of Creative Industries 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 speaking 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 buildings and location at Forthside, I considered it to be a fantastic fit, which has since been confirmed through our close consultation with the industry, including Screen Scotland.”
With over 100,000sq ft of studio space, the significant capacity and flexibility of the location will enable Stirling Studios to fill current gaps in the market for TV and film production and support the rapid growth of the sector in Scotland and the UK.
Market trends, alongside the UK tax credits system, have driven a large expansion in TV and film productions throughout the UK. This has mirrored in Scotland, showing a doubling of film and high-end TV production between 2019 and 2021, according to a recent Screen Scotland report.
Stirling’s geographical location in the Central Belt provides the perfect ‘triangle of success’ for the sector. It has easy access for talent from Glasgow, where the crew base is well established, and Edinburgh, where growth has been significant in the last couple of years.
Isabel Davis, Executive Director of Screen Scotland said: “The Stirling site’s location and ready potential for conversion into a studio are both exceptionally promising.
“Scotland has recently seen significant growth in productions looking to access its internationally recognised cast and crew, as well as its versatile natural and built environments.
“This new site will only add to Scotland’s considerable offering as a filming destination. Working with Stirling Council on this over the last few months, we have been very encouraged by the visionary approach that the team there have taken to get to this stage, including the opportunity to grow the local crew base.
“We look forward to continuing to work with them towards the realisation of the project.”
Some existing buildings on the MoD land will be retained and refurbished for the film and high-end TV campus, accelerating the start of economic activity and job creation on the site as early as this year. The remainder of the land will be redeveloped and cleared in line within existing plans.
Additional projects such as new roads will be delivered by early 2026 as a new sustainable and economically vibrant community takes shape in the Forthside area.
The site has already been used as a filming location which will provide valuable experiences and lessons to serve future high-end productions.
Feedback on Stirling Studios from operators, producers and directors has been overwhelmingly positive, not only about the facilities, but the other advantages such as increasing Scotland’s talent pool through potential partnerships with the University of Stirling and Forth Valley College.
Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Chris Kane said: “Stirling Studios brings one of those rare moments in Stirling’s history which offers the potential to be truly transformational.
“We have an opportunity to embed an industry in our city which will bring thousands of high-skilled jobs, put us on a global creative map and deliver a significant economic boost to the region 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 demand in a thriving sector.
“Students in our schools, our college and our University will be able to pursue creative careers right here in Stirling that in the past would have meant having to consider leaving to chase opportunities elsewhere.
“I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in getting us to this point. We are determined to seize the moment for the people of Stirling and realise the rewards of this ambitious project.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland, John Lamont, said: “Scotland and the UK are a true film and TV production success story and the creation of Stirling Studios to add to the high-quality portfolio of content being produced on these shores is brilliant news.
“The jobs and economy-boosting regeneration that will follow will provide fabulous opportunities for the region.
“The UK Government is committed to making sure that Scotland and the wider UK remains an attractive location for film and high-end TV productions. That is why we have supported our world-leading creative industries with £1 billion in tax reliefs. In total we are investing £72 million in levelling up Stirling and Clackmannanshire and more than £3 billion across Scotland.”
Stirling MP Alyn Smith said: “This is great news for Stirling and will boost our local economy, bringing exciting projects and jobs to both our city and surrounding communities.
“I’m pleased to see this project finally announced, after many painstaking months of negotiation.
“I’ll continue to work closely with key stakeholders to ensure this project delivers for the people I serve, that taxpayers’ money is put to good use in promoting Stirling as a place of business– and we see much needed local investment as a result of this fantastic news.”
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Council
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