http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Scottish Government asked to rule on Straiton film studio" en Thu, 21 May 2026 07:46:05 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-298923 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 14:14:43 +0000 steveo 298923@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My ancestors were quite prodigious cattle thieves (allegedly) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-298921 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 14:11:23 +0000 gembo 298921@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>YEs, the descendant of (cow thieves who used the predecessors of Alex Salmond's defence team) to get off with the hanging to enable genes to go into next generation? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-298906 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 12:56:25 +0000 I were right about that saddle 298906@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Frenchy</p> <p>There's selection bias I suppose given that cow thieving was a hanging matter. My ancestors <em>aspired</em> to cow thieving but never got beyond fish rustling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-298904 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 12:47:30 +0000 neddie 298904@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Building it right next to a road junction on the new Dalkeith Bypass (A68).</p> <p>And optimistically quoting 20mins journey time from the airport.</p> <p>A perfect example of a new road inducing demand on not only the new road, but the city-bypass, the A8 and the airport access road as well.</p> <p>Perhaps they could have sited it next to one of the Borders Line railway stations instead e.g. Shawfair, but no, that would be like, common sense. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-298903 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 12:46:11 +0000 Frenchy 298903@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How many people <em>aren't</em> the descendant of a 16th century cow thief? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-298902 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 12:38:44 +0000 I were right about that saddle 298902@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That land, like so much other land, is controlled by Mr Richard Scott. </p> <p>The vehicle through which this control is exercised will become much richer if the deal goes ahead. Perhaps the vehicle will award some of the riches to Mr Scott? </p> <p>Not bad for the descendant of a sixteenth century cow thief. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-298896 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 11:15:59 +0000 Frenchy 298896@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Plan is now to build it north east of Dalkeith: <a href="https://variety.com/2019/tv/global/major-scottish-film-and-tv-studio-near-edinburgh-in-the-works-1203102851/" rel="nofollow">https://variety.com/2019/tv/global/major-scottish-film-and-tv-studio-near-edinburgh-in-the-works-1203102851/</a></p> <p>NCN 1 currently goes right through the middle of that site. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-297299 Fri, 07 Dec 2018 18:34:50 +0000 crowriver 297299@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"all the lucky people living in the new ticky-tacky houses either side of Burdiehouse Road have to have somewhere to go and release their pent-up spending desires, after all.)"</p> <p>There's that there internet thingy. Apparently quite popular. His nibs at Sports Direct reckons it's so popular killing the high street retailers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-297207 Fri, 07 Dec 2018 08:59:48 +0000 ejstubbs 297207@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interesting. Does this mean that great and good of the film and TV industry in Scotland have lost interest in the Straiton plan? (I have to admit that would give me great pleasure if the Straiton plan gets consigned to history's stinky dustbin of rotten ideas. I have no objection to something useful being done with the truly derelict land opposite Ikea, though. Straiton has long since passed the point where it became a consumerist hellhole - and all the lucky people living in the new ticky-tacky houses either side of Burdiehouse Road have to have <em>somewhere</em> to go and release their pent-up spending desires, after all.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-297206 Fri, 07 Dec 2018 01:08:33 +0000 chdot 297206@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.scotsman.com/regions/edinburgh-fife-lothians/former-leith-wave-power-plant-to-become-world-class-film-and-tv-studio-complex-1-4840551" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotsman.com/regions/edinburgh-fife-lothians/former-leith-wave-power-plant-to-become-world-class-film-and-tv-studio-complex-1-4840551</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-292784 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 15:41:52 +0000 ejstubbs 292784@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Indeed, and although the Land Court's judgement impacts the planning application it's based on landlord and tenant law, not planning law. Nonetheless, the appeal still gives lawyers another chance to construct a convoluted argument which <em>might</em> just succeed.</p> <p>A propos of which: how are Mr Telfer's legal costs being met - is there an online campaign fund to which one might contribute? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-292749 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 11:34:18 +0000 gembo 292749@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah but Court of Session is not Scottish Govt and does not need to do their bidding. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-292737 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 10:14:52 +0000 ejstubbs 292737@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apparently the estate has 28 days in which to lodge an appeal at the Court of Session. This may not be over yet :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-292713 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 20:36:32 +0000 gembo 292713@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Andy Wightman asking why the developers thought it reasonable to evict the tenant whose family farmed there since 1915?</p> <p>Good question </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-292711 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 20:05:09 +0000 ejstubbs 292711@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hoo-flippin'-ray!</p> <p>Whoever - apart from the greedy landowner - thought that the best place to put a film studio was on a greenfield site anyway? It would seem to be the sort of establishment which is ideally suited for a brownfield site.</p> <p>Maybe now the developers will bite the bullet and submit an honest application for the retail development alone, on the brownfield land opposite IKEA. I'd almost say that it's needed: Straiton is already noticeably busier on account of the Limekilns development on the other side of the bypass, and the one adjacent to the Straiton Pond LNR. It won't be long before the one on the west side of Burdiehouse Road starts to be occupied with yet more eager shoppers. Better that all those new consumers have somewhere reasonably local to spend their money in some comfort rather than feeling it preferable to head further afield to get away from the crowds for their chicken twizzlers and flat pack wardrobes.</p> <p>Now, if the cycling infrastructure around there was brought up to a decent standard, more than a motivated minority of them might even be happy to go to the shops by bike... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-292688 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 15:06:00 +0000 Frenchy 292688@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The application to evict Jim Telfer from his smallholding has been refused by the Scottish Land Court."</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/andywightman/status/1047460719145488386" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/andywightman/status/1047460719145488386</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-270732 Mon, 25 Dec 2017 14:39:01 +0000 gembo 270732@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ejstubbs, you are on the money here. Film studios are a patina obfuscating reality </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-270731 Mon, 25 Dec 2017 13:56:30 +0000 ejstubbs 270731@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo: The more I think about this the more I form a suspicion that this is more about building yet more retail space in Straiton, rather than a film studio. My understanding is that the developer may face some unusual legal difficulties in acquiring ownership of the farmland on which the film studio is supposedly going to built, whereas the land earmarked for retail space - which would be sited directly opposite IKEA - is currently lying derelict and may even already be owned by the developer. Could the flim-flam about the film studio be a trojan horse for retail development which wouldn't otherwise be allowed (at least not fronting on to Pentland Road)? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-270698 Sun, 24 Dec 2017 13:58:36 +0000 Klaxon 270698@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Every time I hear about greenbelt commercial development like this my mind drifts to the story of the Wallyford race track </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-270690 Sun, 24 Dec 2017 12:55:41 +0000 gembo 270690@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Maybe we do need more film studios? Or maybe it will become hotels, houses and shops.? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-270689 Sun, 24 Dec 2017 12:51:05 +0000 chdot 270689@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apart from the Green Belt aspect, does Scotland need another film studio?</p> <p>Presumably those behind this one want (and see a need/demand for) more capacity - and one they can own/play with.</p> <p>BUT, SG is heavily involved. This is (should be, partly) about industry and perhaps development, so why not expand “Scotland's Only Fully Integrated Studio” (<a href="https://www.wardparkstudios.co.uk" rel="nofollow">https://www.wardparkstudios.co.uk</a>) [Outlander] or <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/corporate2/scotland/productionfacilities/studios/dumbarton.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/corporate2/scotland/productionfacilities/studios/dumbarton.html</a> [River City] or somewhere new - perhaps in Scotland’s fastest growing city (Inverness)? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-270686 Sun, 24 Dec 2017 11:36:49 +0000 gembo 270686@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Developers must feel confident if they can get any proposal to the Scottish govt.mit will be approved. I wonder if appeals over refusals going to this level are now just part of the process. Why bother having a reporter?</p> <p>There already is a film studio in the pentlands at La Mancha, the gateway studio off leith walk etc.</p> <p>BBC went for clydeside site. </p> <p>Farmland cheap and near the bypass but greenbelt is there for a reason, not just an inconvenience for developers to get round by going to scot gov.<br /> Thank goodness formAndy Wightman </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798&page=2#post-270632 Sat, 23 Dec 2017 16:18:36 +0000 crowriver 270632@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@andywightman<br /> Disgraceful decision by @ScotGovPlanning overturning clear recommendation for refusal by reporter. Jim Telfer, the smallholder, faces eviction to build this &amp; is in court defending his rights. I stand with Jim &amp; his family </p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/andywightman/status/944176292785778689" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/andywightman/status/944176292785778689</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798#post-270612 Fri, 22 Dec 2017 22:46:15 +0000 crowriver 270612@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-42444298" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-42444298</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798#post-270512 Thu, 21 Dec 2017 23:22:13 +0000 chdot 270512@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/scotland-s-first-purpose-built-film-studio-wins-government-backing-1-4645159" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/scotland-s-first-purpose-built-film-studio-wins-government-backing-1-4645159</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798#post-260160 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:09:47 +0000 ejstubbs 260160@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Link to the open letter referred to in that article:</p> <p><a href="https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3986447/Open-Letter-From-Alison-Piper-on-Pentland-Film.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3986447/Open-Letter-From-Alison-Piper-on-Pentland-Film.pdf</a></p> <p>The film industry's stance at the moment does rather smell of the old: "Something must be done! This is something, therefore it must be done!!" fallacy. In this case: "We need someone to build us film studio in Scotland! Here is someone proposing to build a film studio in Scotland, therefore their film studio must be built!!" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798#post-260120 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 08:17:24 +0000 chdot 260120@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/film/developers-deny-signifcant-delays-to-scottish-film-studio-1-4552955" rel="nofollow">http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/film/developers-deny-signifcant-delays-to-scottish-film-studio-1-4552955</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798#post-253440 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 14:03:31 +0000 ejstubbs 253440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From the <a href="https://planning-applications.midlothian.gov.uk/OnlinePlanning/files/1A2CEC20E00989227FB492FA66DF3974/pdf/15_00364_PPP-D_-_ES_CHAPTER_7_GROUND_CONDITIONS_AND_CONTAMINATION-222867.pdf">Environmental Statement</a>:</p> <p><em>Site A </em>[the farmland to the south of Pentland Road]<em> appears to have been primarily in agricultural use, with historical development limited to presumed agricultural structures and residential dwellings localised to the north of Site A. <strong>Widespread contamination is not anticipated</strong> though localised instances of made ground or small-scale chemical releases (e.g. fuel spills from farm equipment) may have occurred historically. Modern biocides applied under agricultural use tend to dissipate/degrade relatively quickly and do not typically represent a risk for sites being changed from agricultural to commercial land.</em></p> <p>It's a farm, with low contamination risk.</p> <p><em>Site B </em>[the derelict land to the north of Pentland Road]<em> appears to be dominated by the former Clippens landfill. Residual contamination from the infill materials may represent a risk to construction workers and end users by direct contact, ingestion, and inhalation of dust. Ground gas and vapours from the infill materials may represent<br /> a further risk.<br /> Additional residual contamination may be associated with structures and operations of the former oil works encroaching onto Site B; these may represent a risk to construction workers and end users by direct contact, ingestion, and inhalation of dust.</em></p> <p>It's contaminated land, no doubt about it.</p> <p><em>Landfill gas from Site B is anticipated <strong>likely</strong> to affect the development of Site B, and <strong>may</strong> additionally affect the development of Site A.<br /> Ground gas from shallow mineworkings <strong>may</strong> affect the development of both Site A and B.</em></p> <p>Again, site B is clearly the greatest contamination risk.</p> <p><code>The image you call the "planned site" is actually only the first phase of the studio. The second phase is on the NE side of Pentland Rd, on the former Clippens landfill, where you wrongly state nothing is to be built.</code></p> <p>Silly me for taking the diagram on the developer's web site at face value. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798#post-252494 Fri, 09 Jun 2017 19:27:24 +0000 Dunedin 252494@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>ejstubbs - </p> <p>You think because land is used for farming it can't be contaminated? I suggest you take a look at the actual planning documents. You'll see from the environmental assessment of the ground conditions that there is soil and groundwater contamination, as well as elevated gas generation rates, across the site.</p> <p>The image you call the "planned site" is actually only the first phase of the studio. The second phase is on the NE side of Pentland Rd, on the former Clippens landfill, where you wrongly state nothing is to be built. This will house the main backlot as well as support services. You are correct in saying that this land is the most heavily contaminated, and it will require the most serious mitigation. The recent construction of the fast food restaurants on the NE edge of this field necessitated the removal of all topsoil to a depth of 2m as well as other significant remedial measures.</p> <p>Nope, there is no "sprawling shopping centre" planned. A strip of "employment land" runs around part of this main backlot on the former oil works &amp; landfill. This was done partly at the behest of the council so there would be an active frontage on Pentland Rd &amp; Straiton Rd, rather than a blank perimeter fence or wall. While it's possible there might be a shop or restaurant or two, it is expected to be mainly offices &amp; workspaces for film &amp; tv related businesses attracted to the area by the studio. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15798#post-250151 Mon, 15 May 2017 13:57:09 +0000 ejstubbs 250151@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Dunedin: "Anyone familiar with these fields know ... the land itself is heavily contaminated from the old Straiton shale oil mines, so its not exactly a rural idyll."</p> <p>This is not true: as Schemieradge says, the fields are agricultural land; it has been actively used for farming for over 100 years.</p> <p>This <a href="http://maps.nls.uk/view/82877967">1894 OS 1:2,500 map</a> clearly shows how Pentland Road separates the oil shale works from the farmland.</p> <p>There is contaminated land on the other side of Pentland Road, and opposite the Adsa store, but that's not where the "film studio" is planned to be built*. Why not? Probably because of the cost that would be involved in decontaminating the land before building could go ahead. So instead we'll be left with a sprawling shopping centre, a "film studio" - and right smack in the middle of it all, an eyesore contaminated land site left lying derelict.</p> <p><em>* Compare the (pitifully small) photo of the planned site on the Pentland Studios web site <a href="http://scottishinternationalstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Straiton-Site-300x148.png">here</a> with the <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.881789,-3.1794057,2015a,35y,90h/data=!3m1!1e3">Google Maps aerial view</a> (use the belt of trees as a reference between the two). In the studio web site's photo the pale/white blob at the top edge of the rectangular areas of trees on the left centre of the photo, and greenish-brown area of land beyond it, is the cement works and the contaminated ex-oil shale works land.</em> </p>