A new and serious bid to build a film studio is being considered by Scottish Enterprise, the nation's culture minister has revealed.
Speaking before the Economy committee of the Scottish Parliament, Fiona Hyslop said she was confident a studio would be built in the near future.
She said a privately backed bid is currently being considered by the business and economic agency.
Ms Hyslop said the plan - details she would not reveal - would provide the highest sound stage of any location in the UK.
SNP MSP Joan McAlpine said that discussion about a film studio goes back to the 1940s, and asks whether this government, which has established a Film Studio Delivery Group, could successfully back a studio plan
Ms Hyslop said: "Yes I am determined that we will."
A private bid to build a large studio complex on the outskirts of Edinburgh - the £140m Pentlands Studio - will shortly be seeking planning permission from Midlothian Council.
Ms Hyslop appeared to suggest that the EU's State Aid rules, which monitor government's involvement in private business investment, effectively rule out the use of public funds in building a facility.
It is understood that the studio proposal being considered by Scottish Enterprise is neither one of the previous five projects in the running for the initiative, nor is it the Pentland Studios plan, which is entirely privately financed.
The project mentioned by Hyslop is an entirely new project which, it is understood, the delivery group has a high degree of confidence in.
Scottish Enterprise confirmed a new bid from a private sector developer to provide a film studio had been received.
David Smith, Scottish Enterprise Technology, Engineering and Creative Industries Director, said: "We are pleased to have received this proposal, especially as our initial assessment suggests that it exceeds the specification laid out in the original Development Brief.
"This means that if successful Scotland would have one of the highest soundstages in the UK and crucially would represent good value to the public purse.
"We are working towards completing due diligence and agreeing heads of terms with the developer within the next 8 weeks, at which point we will provide a further update. Achieving this date is dependent on an acceptable deal being reached with the developer.
"We will continue to work alongside the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland to deliver effective support for the screen sector in Scotland, and this news in addition to yesterday's funding boost is very encouraging."
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