SCOTLAND'S film makers have been invited to shape plans for an ambitious new multi-million pound film studio by joining the board as advisors.
A group which represents more than 1700 producers, directors and technicians, will help advise on decision-making if they accept the offer from PSL Land ltd which wants to build a major studio complex at Straiton, Midlothian, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Called the Association of Film and TV Practitioners Scotland (AFPTS), the pressure group has been among the loudest and most persistent voices calling for major international film studio to be built in Scotland.
The body recently used Freedom of Information legislation to find out more about the government's Film Studio Delivery Group and have long lobbied for studios to boost Scotland's film industry.
PSL has offered the group a non-executive seat on the board of directors and it is believed one person, representing the group, would sit on the board.
A PSL spokeswoman said: "The role will be from the application of the detail planning application for the studio through the construction and then continuing as part of the Studio Operational Board."
In a AFPTS statement last night, it welcomed the approach but said at present there was no formal arrangement in place.
"It's a suggestion of a non-paid advisory role to advise the board on industry issues and for there to be total transparency between PSL and local Scottish crew and industry," said the statement.
It is hoped the Pentland Studios development - reportedly worth £250 million - will help attract more feature films and high-end TV productions to the country.
The privately-funded project had been mired in a planning wrangle for the past two years.
Its backers now believe the studio can be operational by the end of next year.
The studio, which will feature six huge sound stages, will be built on about 100 acres of greenbelt land at Old Pentland Farm in the Straiton area.
The plans still have to the subject of a detailed planning application from the council but say they hope to be operational by the end of 2018.
The Pentland Studio plans still have some opposition, notably from local Green MSPs, local residents, and the farmer who lives and works on part of the land.
Meanwhile another film studio plan, called Guardhouse, who wish to build studios on land near Heriot Watt University, is to bid for planning permission from the City of Edinburgh Council this summer.
Both studio plans aim to radically change the infrastructure available to Scottish-based movie makers as well as large visiting films such as the Avengers movie, Infinity War, being shot in Edinburgh or past productions such as World War Z.
The Scottish Government gave a greenlight to the Pentlands plan even though its own planning official, reporter David Bullya, recommended against building the project.
The PSL plan a purpose-built studio complex which will include the building of six sound stages up to 70ft tall at the 106-acre site.
The government reporter recommended that “consideration must be given” to Midlothian Council’s fears that other projects could be “threatened” by the studio scheme.
However, the ruling from ministers said the anticipated benefits of the scheme outweighed any “potential consequences,” such as the loss of green belt, and the impact on neighbouring residents and the roads network.
PSL previously said: "Working together with Midlothian Council, we hope this next stage will be expedited accordingly, recovering the construction scheduling that will enable delivery of the key studio operation by late 2018."
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