Thursday April 22nd 2021
Plans to use Newtongrange to recreate the car park where the remains of King Richard III were discovered have been given the go-ahead.
Filming of a new movie telling the story of the remarkable find is due to take place at the National Mining Museum next month.
However, planning permission and Listed Building Consent was needed to let movie-makers recreate the scene of the archaeological dig.
This week, planners gave the project the green light after no objections were raised and the film company pledged to carry out its own archaeological review of the site before carrying out the temporary changes.
The new movie, starring Alan Partridge actor Steve Coogan, tells the story of how the skeleton of the last of the Plantagenet rulers, who died in battle in 1485, was found under a council car park in Leicester nine years ago.
Comedian and actor Coogan and his Stan and Ollie writing partner Jeff Pope are set to produce the film alongside acclaimed director Stephen Frears.
Coogan’s film company Baby Cow Films applied for planning permission from Midlothian Council to recreate the dig at Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange.
Plans to dig three trenches at the museum site, as well as putting down tarmac for the duration of filming, were lodged.
Work is due to begin on Monday 26th April, with filming planned for the last two weeks of May and start of June.
The hunt for King Richard’s remains saw an archaeological dig launched in 2012, when three trenches were dug at two council car park sites and a playground in Leicester.
The site was a former friary and, within a few months of starting the dig, remains which were later confirmed as the king’s were discovered.
Approving planning permission for the creation of the temporary shoot site, officers said: “The proposals will have no significant adverse impacts on the character or appearance of the listed buildings or the conservation area.
“Appropriate archaeological recording of the site will be completed.”
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