Stirling reveals film and TV vision for former MoD base used for key scenes in Lockerbie disaster drama

A former Ministry of Defence site at Forthside in Stirling has become Scotland's latest film and TV production hub. Picture: Christopher Jackson Drone Videography & Photography

A former military base in Stirling is to become one of Scotland's most important film and television hubs – with a new drama on the Lockerbie disaster the first production to use the vast site.

Key scenes for the five-part Sky series starring Colin Firth and Catherine McCormack have been filmed inside and outside the surviving barracks buildings at Forthside which will be retained for future shoots.

More than 4000 jobs are predicted to be created over the next 25 years as a result of the newly-announced Stirling Studios venture, which is expected to provide a huge boost to Scotland’s capacity to host major productions.

Colin Firth on set in Bathgate, West Lothian, during filming for an upcoming Sky series about the Lockerbie bombing. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

It is hoped the site, which has around 100,000 sq ft of studio space and more than 110,000 of space for production logistics and offices, will support the “rapid growth” of the Scottish screen sector, which is already valued at more than £610 million.

The future of the Forthside site, which sits on the south bank of the River Forth, has been secured after the UK Government agreed to provide £24 million to help Stirling Council acquire it from the Ministry of Defence.

The former military buildings on the site were originally earmarked for demolition, but are now to be retained for use by future film and TV productions.

Stirling Council chiefs say the location of the Forthside site will provide the screen industry with a “perfect triangle” due to its close proximity to both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The crews filming Sky’s Lockerbie series will leave Scotland this week after two and a half months based at both Forthside and the Pyramids Studios complex, which has transformed a former Motorola mobile phone factory in Bathgate. Other scenes were shot on location around central Scotland.

An 85 strong cast, around 1500 extras and a crew of up to 200 have been working on the production, which will also be filmed in Morocco.

Isabel Davis of Screen Scotland said: “The Stirling site’s location and ready potential for conversion into a studio are both exceptionally promising.

"Scotland has recently seen significant growth in productions looking to access its internationally recognised cast and crew, as well as its versatile natural and built environments. This new site will only add to Scotland’s considerable offering as a filming destination.

"We’ve been very encouraged by the visionary approach that the Stirling Council team have taken to get to this stage, including the opportunity to grow the local crew base. We look forward to continuing to work with them.”

John Lamont, the UK Government’s Minister for Scotland, said: "Scotland and the UK are a true film and TV production success story and the creation of Stirling Studios to add to the high quality portfolio of content being produced on these shores is brilliant news.

"I'm delighted that £24 million UK Government funding is helping Stirling Council to purchase and redevelop the former MoD Forthside site.

"The jobs and economy boosting regeneration that will follow will provide fabulous opportunities for the region.”

Stirling Council leader Chris Kane said: “We have an opportunity to embed an industry which will bring thousands of high-skilled jobs, put us on a global creative map and deliver a significant economic boost to the region over many decades.”

Stirling reveals film and TV vision for former MoD base used for key scenes in Lockerbie disaster drama

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