The work is likely to take around one year, starting in February 2025.

A £6m procurement contract for building refurbishment has been approved for the Forthside site and Stirling Studios project – a milestone for the planned studio facility.

The funds will be used at the 23-acre, former Ministry of Defence site at Forthside, with the majority invested in an existing 160,000 square-foot building which is likely to become the main hub for Stirling Studios.

Approval for the £6m procurement contract, funded from the £19.1 million received from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund in March 2023, was agreed at a meeting of the Finance, Economy and Corporate Support Committee at Stirling Council.

The refurbishment works at Forthside are expected to begin in February 2025 and be completed by January 2026.

Stirling Council leader, Cllr Margaret Brisley, said: “The agreement for the procurement contract to refurbish these buildings will accelerate the transformation of Forthside into a prime economic hub, including the Stirling Studios project.

“It is an important step in the project’s timeline, with the ultimate aim of turning the site into a dynamic and vibrant location for film and television production, as well as other industries, attracting investment and promoting job creation.

“This is just the beginning of what will be a transformative journey for the Forthside site and the wider area. The establishment of Stirling Studios, in particular, will position us on the global creative stage and provide significant social and economic boosts to the Stirling area for many years to come.”

Stirling Studios will be among the biggest film studio campuses in Scotland and will create an estimated 4,000+ jobs over 25 years in key film and production roles, as well as other supply services.

It was announced in April 2024 following transfer of the MoD land at Forthside to Stirling Council as part of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal – a £214 million partnership between Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils, the University of Stirling and the UK and Scottish Governments.