Approval for Dalkeith community hub

A bid to officially turn a former empty retail space in the centre of Dalkeith into a community hub has been given the go-ahead.

The One Dalkeith hub in the town centre.

One Dalkeith has been working to create a space which will bring community cinema and events to the centre of the town. The development trust has had providing a community facility at the heart of its goal to improve what is on offer.

The group moved into the facility last year on a temporary basis but it has now been granted planning permission for a change  of use for the former furniture store on Eskdaill Court. A statement on the proposals said examples of the activities which would initially take place in the new centre and were already publicly funded included community cinemas, craft markets, clubs and seasonally-themed family events.

Approving the change of use, the planning officer noted: “In the future, areas of the unit will be used for offices and start-up units which would operate during business hours. The proposal is for community facilities including offices and space for business start-ups which the Scottish Government encourages in town centres, as well as community projects and flexible spaces in town centres which could be used for cultural events and exhibitions.

“The proposed use as a community hub facility is an acceptable use in this town centre as this will add to the variety of uses that improves the vitality of the area, including in the evenings.”

And they pointed out that there had been no objections to the proposals lodged.