The property developer that has acquired the site where axed Scottish soap River City was filmed for 24 years has been named as Turnberry Home by the Scottish Sun.
Campaigners said they were “devastated” by the loss of the Dumbarton complex, where sitcoms Still Game and Two Doors Down were also filmed.
BBC Scotland had been leasing the studios for £150,000 per year but that deal was up for renewal in September.
Now Turnberry has bought the four-hectare lot for £2.1million, despite a campaign to save it as a film and TV studio backed by stars including Brian Cox and Spooks actress Shauna Macdonald.
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The campaign was spearheaded by Maureen Hascoet, from production company Firewalker Pictures (pictured), whose £5m bid to save the complex was rejected by owners Westerwood Properties.
Hascoet said: “The sale confirms the wider concern many of us in the industry had. I’m extremely disappointed that a fully funded proposal to retain Dumbarton Studios as a working film and TV facility wasn’t successful.
“Recent meetings have shown we are far from done feeling the compounding effects of the loss of Dumbarton Studios. I hope it becomes a cautionary tale and sparks a broader conversation about how Scotland values, protects and develops long-term screen infrastructure.”
The Land Register of Scotland shows developers Turnberry Homes sealed the deal in January, ten months after it was announced River City would air for the final time in late August.
The Studio Drive site features a huge custom-built set for the soap, including the Tall Ship pub and Oyster Cafe, as well as the Still Game studios where creators and stars Ford Kiernan, 64, and Greg Hemphill, 56. became Jack and Victor.
The site is believed to be big enough for around 100 new homes.
River City, which attracted almost a million viewers for its first episode in September 2002, was ditched due to “audience decline,” with the BBC insisting it would divert its resources into making new shows.
Turnberry Homes has not so far commented on its plans for the site.
