An historic Perthshire estate is working on a fresh plan to lure big name Hollywood productions to the area.
Management at Abercairny, near Crieff, have confirmed they are in talks with developers about revised plans for a new Scottish film studio.
PSL Land, the team behind the failed Pentlands Studio project, has returned with similar proposals for a site near Dalkeith.
If successful, the 10,000 acre Abercairny estate could be used for outdoor shoots.
Bringing large-scale TV and film productions to Perthshire is expect to pump millions into the local economy. Developers said Scotland missed out on hosting shoots for the likes of Star Wars and Game of Thrones because the countries didn’t have a suitable studio.
An estate spokesman said: “Abercairny Estate continues to work with the PSL team and we are excited by the progress they have made on their new site and studio plans.”
Development director Jim O’Donnell previously said Abercairny’s lochs, woodland, mansion house and walled garden could be ideal for outdoor shoots.
PSL Land was prevented from progressing its dream for a six-studio facility on the outskirts of Edinburgh after the Scottish Land Court ruled in favour of a local farmer who had objected to the project
Jim Telfer had faced eviction from his smallholdings at Damhead, where Scottish Ministers had formally granted planning permission for the development at the end of 2017.
Developers have now lodged a proposal of application notice with Midlothian Council for a 48-acre studio and film academy, adjacent to Dalkeith Country Park.
Buccleuch Estates contacted PSL Land following the court ruling to offer up the new site, about four miles from the original one.
There is now a sale agreement in principal between the two parties. The new studio would span 48 acres, with nine sound stages across 208,000 square feet.
Nick Waugh, commercial property director at Buccleuch Estates said: “We recognise the importance of this ambitious project, and are delighted to play a role in helping deliver a world-class film studio to Scotland that will inevitably transform the Scottish creative industry and our reputation as a filming location across the globe.”
PSL Land consultant Nick Smith added: “You look at what’s happening in the Bristol and South Wales corridor or Belfast, and the one area of the UK that is missing out by a country mile and has been for years is Scotland.”
