West Lothian Council is developing a lucrative business that will take it to millions of people across the globe. Whether it is the beauty of Beecraigs Country Park or the brisk functionality of the foyer of Livingston’s Civic Centre, both have featured in the movies. And while the county is not yet in the Hollywood earning bracket, it is a growing business.
Location scouts make frequent requests to use council venues and areas around the county for film and TV. The growth of independent production has been boosted by booming streaming services. A report to Linlithgow’s Local Area Committee said: “Rangers are processing a filming request for an independent short film shoot to take place in Beecraigs Country Park.”
That prompted a question from Councillor Pauline Orr about earnings. Countryside Officer Eirwen Hopwood confirmed to the meeting that production companies paid to make use of areas as scenery. A council spokesperson confirmed that the council had earned around £30,000 from location hire.
The spokesperson added: “We are delighted that more and more film crews are choosing to make use of the many excellent locations we have in West Lothian. We have welcomed a number of high-profile productions to West Lothian in recent years, including Outlander, Trainspotting 2, Damaged with Samuel L. Jackson and both The Bombing of Pan Am 103 and Lockerbie mini-series.
“This raises the profile of West Lothian as a filming location nationally and internationally, and generates a small income that can be reinvested back into delivering essential services for local residents. Since 2023, over £30,000 in income has been raised from film productions.”
