Scotland plans film studio for 2017
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Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said her government will help turn Wardpark Studios in Cumbernauld into a permanent filming facility by the end of 2017.
The former industrial site was adapted into a studio for the high-end TV drama Outlander (pictured) and has been shortlisted for some time by the Scottish government for expansion as a permanent facility.
Sturgeon told Holyrood yesterday that planning permission for 30,000 sq ft of additional studio resources at Wardpark was submitted to local authorities last week.
“We think the progress around Cumbernauld is very, very, very positive and I hope we continue to see that move forward so that we do have a fully operational film studio - let me say this again - no later than the end of 2017,” Sturgeon said.
The government is offering up to £4m of public money to help with the Cumbernauld expansion.
Sturgeon did not address the issue of Pentland Studios, a privately-funded studio mooted for development outside Edinburgh, which has been hit with planning delays and local opposition in recent months.
The Scottish production industry had originally stressed the importance of having a purpose-built film studio, but after years of delays the expansion of Wardpark is still likely to find support, assuming the late-2017 opening becomes a reality.
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