Plans have been lodged to turn an empty Edinburgh three-floor office block into a new church.

Hope City Church Edinburgh submitted a change of use application on March 2 to turn a vacant business premises into a place of worship and associated facilities, at 2 Lochside Avenue, at the Gyle.

The premises offer flexible space centred around a central atrium which extends the full three floors. The remaining area offers a mix of open plan and smaller office rooms. The facilities include a kitchen and canteen area.

The existing property was occupied by Menzies Aviation as their main headquarters but they vacated the building some two years ago. | Google Maps

placeholder image — The existing property was occupied by Menzies Aviation as their main headquarters but they vacated the building some two years ago. | Google Maps

The applicant, Hope City Church Edinburgh, is an independent Christian church. They currently occupy a nearby premises at South Gyle Crescent in a property which is leased from Edinburgh City Council.

In the planning documents, the applicant said: “The proposed premises provides continuity of the church activities with space to expand. The church will use the space to provide a place of regular public worship and for social, recreational and instructional activities through the week.

“In addition, the church’s expanded space will continue to serve other local charity and community organisations by hosting their activities.

“These would be similar to those operated within the existing church space, including a community choir operated by the Singergie charity, a social group for local parents and carers and their children, a training venue for the homelessness charity Bethany, and another two similar groups.

“The considerable larger space will enable the church to expand community based uses over time.

“The use as a church will result in a better mix of uses in the area, meets an established need and contributes towards the City Plan Vision to change the character of the area over time from a business dominated environment to a thriving mixed-use and well integrated part of the city.”

These plans show the proposed exterior of the building, with Hope City Church branding placed high up the property. | Ness Planning

The plans show proposed alterations to the ground floor including removing storage and separate office spaces to create a central atrium/ assembly, with an office/ events space to become a creche and kids area.

The blank canvas first floor would be adapted to include a kids classroom and a post-service refreshment and social area. As well as space for a possible future extension of congregational seating. The existing meeting rooms and toilet facilities would remain.

While the third floor, again mostly a blank canvas, has been earmarked for spaces for church activities and a staff office in the planning documents.

The existing property was occupied by Menzies Aviation as their main headquarters, but they vacated the building two years ago. Since that time, the building has remained vacant.

The City of Edinburgh Council’s planning department will now decide upon the change of use application, which has so far received no public comments on the online planning portal.

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