Work begins on new £16m Stirling Studios project

Work on the studio complex is expected to be completed in March next year

Work is under way on a £16m project to transform former Ministry of Defence (MoD) land in Stirling into one of Scotland's largest film production sites.

Stirling Council is using the majority of a £19m UK government grant to fund the redevelopment of the area at Forthside.

It includes refurbishing a 160,000 sq ft (14,864 sq m) building into the main studio hub, and installing roads, power, drainage and communications.

Work on the Stirling Studios project is expected to be completed by the end of March next year.

The development will transform the site's largest building into the main studio hub

It is hoped that major productions for Netflix and Amazon will use the site.

Sky Atlantic's Lockerbie drama used the site as a filming location last year.

It has been assessed that there is currently 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) of studio space and 110,000 sq ft (10,219 sq m) for production, logistics and office space.

Stirling Council said it planned to appoint an operator to run the studio.

The local authority previously said it hoped the project could create 4,000 jobs over the next 25 years.

The land, formerly used as a barracks and an ordnance depot, was transferred to the council through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

Stirling Council leader Gerry McGarvey said the authority was "incredibly excited" about the project.

He said: "Our aim is to transform this former military site into a dynamic and vibrant location for film, high-end TV production and other creative industries, and put Stirling at the centre of this industry in Scotland, delivering wide-ranging and lasting economic and social benefits."

Mr McGarvey said the council was working in partnership with Screen Scotland, local colleges and universities, and industry to "support skills development and expand the talent pool in Scotland across this key sector."

He added: "The feedback from the screen industry continues to be hugely positive and encouraging and we look forward to sharing more announcements about this transformative project in the near future."

Scotland's largest film production studio is currently Wardpark Film and Television Studios in Cumbernauld, which has about 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m) of studio space over its five sound stages.