Scotland's new film body has welcomed fresh plans for a major film studio on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
A new location for the Pentlands Studios has been lodged with Midlothian Council, whose planning committee will have initial discussions on the revised plan later this month.
The new plan, at Salter's Gate, follows the developers PSL Land's thwarted and oft controversial plan to build a wholly privately funded studio at Straiton, also in Midlothian.
It is understood that PSL is still interested in developing that land, but has moved its attention to another area for the studio complex.
Last night Isabel Davis, the executive director of Screen Scotland, welcomed the move.
Screen Scotland itself is backing another major studio plan, in Leith, Edinburgh, in a large industrial shed, a prospect it has opened to tenders.
Ms Davis said: "It’s very encouraging that PSL is taking forward its studio proposal to Salter’s Gate.
"With record levels of film and TV production spend in Scotland, and the global content market remaining buoyant, it is vital that we have the studio capacity to support future growth.
"The proposed development at Salter’s Land will complement other existing facilities servicing the industry including Wardpark Studios and the planned Bath Road Studio [in Leith] development to provide world-class film and TV facilities to both the Scottish industry and large scale international productions."
PSL Land has lodged for planning permission with Midlothian Council.
The request mentions a "mixed use development comprising film and TV studios including workshops/offices; reception/commissary; gatehouse; trailer park; film academy and associated student accommodation; and associated access, parking and infrastructure."
PSL Land’s earlier Pentland Studios proposal at Straiton appeared to have reached a dead end.
The Scottish Land Court ruled that a tenant farmer on the land could not be evicted from the land to make way for the development.
The owners of the Salter's Gate site, Buccleuch Estates, contacted PSL Land to offer up the new site, which had only recently become available.
There is now a sale agreement in principle between the two parties, according to the Variety magazine.
The new studio plan envisions a complex spanning 48 acres, with nine sound stages across 208,000 square feet.
There will also be workshops across 122,000 square feet, a "commissary building", and media hub.
A data centre would be built at the original Straiton site, according to the new planning application submitted by PSL Land on Wednesday.
PSL is also talking to Edinburgh Napier University about establishing a Scottish Film Academy on the site.
Nick Waugh, commercial property director at the commercial arm of Buccleuch Estates, which owns the land, said: “We recognize 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.”
An initial report will go to the Midlothian Council’s Planning Committee on 22 January.
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