Screenwriter plans to bring major productions to Scotland following film studio approval

A leading screenwriter has told Forth News about his plans to bring major TV and film productions to Scotland following the approval of new film studios.

Last week Scottish Government ministers gave the green light to the £250m Pentland Studio project. Work is now expected to start on the site at Straiton next month.

Six sound stages and one water stage are planned for the 96-acre site and it's thought a total of 1,600 jobs will be created.

David Hancock, a Napier film graduate, who now works on popular Netflix series 'The Crown', told Forth News: "It's such good news for everyone and it's a testament to those who campaigned. It's the right decision by the Scottish Government. Writing and producing are what I'm interested in and I think Scotland is a great place and is becoming an even better place to do both.

"It means the productions themselves can be based there, so you can have the production office headquarters there and they can shoot all or at least a large part there.

"It also encourages the growth of all those behind-the-scenes facilities, so post-production and things like that. It becomes a circle and they feed into each other and with any luck everyone is a winner."

David Hancock now says he can start to make more concrete plans on future productions based in Scotland - a desire that previously would not have been as easily possible.

The studios are set to open in late 2018.