The objective is a world class development capable of attracting major international film-makers

Toni Antoniou, SFSP

Other facilities include a silent stage, an extensive back lot, a film and media museum, a private country club and luxury studio apartments for technicians and visiting cast and crew members.

There are also plans to build a new five-star 300 bedroom hotel with an adjacent 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and golf academy.

Scottish Film Studio Partnership spokesman, Toni Antoniou, said it had taken six-years of work to bring the proposal to this stage.

He said: "The idea is to provide Scotland with a unique state of the art filming facility which has the capability of handling everything from small productions to big budget movies.

"The complex will have all the necessary facilities required for film-making right through to final production and editing."

'Business will follow'

Mr Antoniou said Scotland needed the development to gain a foothold in the highly-competitive international film industry.

"We should not be afraid to grasp this opportunity to put Scotland to the forefront," he said.

"If it doesn't happen now it will never happen and we could end up with sporadic development of mini sound stage developments up and down the country. If we build a national film studio of this scale the business will follow."

Having Scotland's national film studio in Perth and Kinross would obviously be a major prize for the district

Denis Munro, Perth and Kinross Council

He added: "The objective is a world class development capable of attracting major international film-makers while, at the same time, providing a vital resource to the indigenous Scottish film and media industry.

"It will also encourage and support new Scottish talent and expertise in every aspect of film-making."

But Mr Antoniou refused to reveal the names of the "major players" in the consortium. He said the plan was still commercially sensitive but that the names of those involved would emerge during the planning process.

It is understood that all land option deals for the project have been secured and the council has adopted the scheme into the local development plan.

'Major prize'

About 1,000 long-term jobs are expected to be created in the area with thousands more temporary ones during the construction phase.

Perth and Kinross Council's planning director Denis Munro confirmed talks had started with the partnership in a bid to make the studio a reality.

He said: "From the details we have seen so far, this is likely to be the largest single planning application ever to come before the council.

Mike O'Malley: "Lucrative industry"

"Having Scotland's national film studio in Perth and Kinross would obviously be a major prize for the district."

Provost Mike O'Malley stressed the economic and social benefits of bringing the studio to Perth and Kinross.

"I am particularly keen that we attract new industry and stem the brain drain currently experienced within Perth and Kinross," he said.

"A national film studio would put Perthshire on the movie world's map and give Scotland a chance to stand on its own feet in the lucrative industry."

Plans for a national film studio have already been mooted for smaller scale developments at Inverness and Glasgow, but as yet neither proposal has attracted the necessary funding.