A MAJOR FILM studio plan for the outskirts of Edinburgh has been backed by the Scottish Government.
The Pentlands Film Studio plan, which developers aim to build in Straiton, Midlothian, has been granted planning in principle by Scottish ministers.
The scheme will now move into the detailed planning stage with Midlothian Council.
Earlier this year, ministers said they were 'minded' to back the plan, and in a new decision they have granted permission in principle for multi-million pound plan.
However, as yet there are no firm dates of when construction will begin, or operation of the new studios will start.
Jim O’Donnell, director of development for PSL Ltd, the developers behind the plan, said: "We are extremely pleased to have reached this major milestone in the studio complex’s journey, after a considerable period of time and work to date. "We particularly want to thank those who have supported the project throughout the past three years, and we look forward to reaching the next milestone as soon as possible."
The proposal, according to the latest decision document, is for two sites, either side of Pentland Road, and will include a film and TV studio, backlot areas, a hotel, an energy centre or power plant, and a film school campus with student accommodation.
The planning permission for the studio plan on the site has had a long and complex history and has proved controversial.
Green MSPs have opposed the plan, as has the family of a tenant farmer, Jim Telfer, who works on some of the land involved in the plan.
The application for planning permission in principle was made to Midlothian Council, in May 2015.
However, after a decision was not made, it was passed to Scottish Ministers in December 2015.
A Reporter's recommendation was issued in December 2016, which recommended rejecting the plan, but in April this year Minister said they were 'minded to grant' planning permission, subject to conditions.
Ministers now say a new Midlothian Local Development Plan has changed the designation of the land involved from all green belt to a mixed used site.
The decision says: "It is considered that the anticipated significant socio-economic benefits of this specialist mixed use proposal, on a local and national scale outweigh any potential negative consequences to the development plan including loss of Countryside/Greenbelt, localised impacts on amenity and uncertainty around cumulative road and traffic impacts."
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