£250m plan to build 'Highland Hollywood'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The quiet village of Aberuthven could be transformed into a Highland Hollywood under plans to build a £250m national film studio for Scotland in Perthshire.
A consortium of businessmen have presented proposals to redevelop 800 acres of farmland to create a complex intended to rival the best America can offer. The Scottish Film Studio Partnership has lodged a blueprint of its plans with Perth and Kinross Council and hopes to apply for outline planning permission by December.
The project would include a multisound stage, the largest external water tank in Europe, an extensive back lot with silent stage facilities, a hotel, an 18-hole golf course and a film museum. "The objective is a world-class development capable of attracting major international film makers while, at the same time, providing a vital resource to the indigenous Scottish film and media industry," Toni Antoniou, a spokesman for the partnership, said yesterday.
The complex is predicted to create about 1,000 long-term jobs and a wealth of temporary employment during its four-year construction. "The idea is to provide Scotland with a unique state-of-the-art filming facility which has the capability of handling everything from small productions to big-budget movies," Mr Antoniou explained.
There have been a number of plans to create a central studio for the Scottish film industry, the most high-profile of which was backed by Sir Sean Connery and Sony. It was abandoned after Edinburgh City Council said there would have to be a public inquiry into the effects on greenbelt policy.
Denis Munro, Perth and Kinross Council's planning director, confirmed it had been working with the partnership to bring the project to fruition. "From the details we have seen so far, this is likely to be the largest single planning application ever to come before the council," he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments