Stirling Council has agreed to set aside $6.7m (£6million) towards the refurbishment of Stirling’s former military base as it gets set to become Scotland’s biggest TV and film studio. 

A $6.7m building contract has been approved to go towards the redevelopment of Forthside and the Stirling Studios project there.The funds will be used at the city’s former Ministry of Defense (MoD) site, with the majority of that sum to be invested in an existing 160,000 square-foot building, which is earmarked to become the main hub for the ambitious Stirling Studios plan.

Last year, the Stirling Observer told how Stirling is set to become the heart of Scotland’s film and TV industry with the creation of one of the biggest studios in the country.Stirling Studios, based on the former MoD site at Forthside, is expected to pave the way for thousands of high skilled jobs when it pulls in production teams and big name networks. 

Approval for the project, funded from the $20m 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 majority of the works to be undertaken on the 34-acre site will ensure compliance with current building standards regulations and are mostly mechanical and electrical in nature. Building 135, which will receive the majority of the investment, will undergo roof and fabric repairs, with the height of the roof to be raised in one section of the structure to increase its flexibility of use. It will also see the installation of thermal insulation, a new electricity sub-station, new fire alarm and security systems, as well as the introduction of improved ventilation systems and high speed fibre networks.

More than 4,000 local jobs are expected to be created over the next 25 years. Stirling Council Leader, 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. ”The former MoD base – also known as Forthside Barracks – was built as an ordnance depot in 1899. It was purchased by Stirling Council for £5million in March 2023. 

The site sits on the south bank of the River Forth and is the largest brownfield area in the city centre. We previously told how concerns were expressed that the local authority would have to foot a hefty bill for Forthside’s remediation and the MoD last year carried out a contamination probe at the site in order for works to be undertaken prior to the transfer of the land to the council. 

The council later approved work on its transformation into a prime economic location. All buildings at Forthside have been surveyed and structural assessments have been undertaken. All of the buildings to be retained for the Stirling Studios project and other industries are in good structural condition and considered suitable for adaptation. 

Following the procurement process, it’s hoped that the refurbishment works will begin in February next year and be completed by January 2026. Reports on an updated masterplan for the Forthside area and the preferred option for operating the Stirling Studios complex will come before Stirling Council before the end of 2024.