For the last year we have been working hard to ensure that Balerno Police Station is kept for the benefit of the community and today we are able to let you know that we have been given £239,005 from the Scottish Land Fund to enable us to purchase the building and make it safe. In June we also received formal confirmation that Police Scotland has accepted our request for a Community Asset Transfer.
In the Autumn last year we consulted with the community (thank you for all who spoke to us) and taking into account the feedback we received we are planning to transform the building into a vibrant community hub that will provide smaller community spaces for use and hire and create additional after-school care provision from 2-6pm.
We are planning to get an external provider in to operate the after-school provision and are currently seeking notes of interest from people who may wish to do this. Our aim is to have this available from August 2026.
We have a bit of work to do before we can get the building open. We are currently in the process of negotiating the sale with Police Scotland and have submitted an application for planning permission which includes the renovation work, and the addition of solar panels and air source heating. See here for details. If you like our plans, please feel free to submit a comment in support. If you don’t like them please speak to us!
In due course we will arrange an appropriate community event to celebrate (perhaps when we get the keys). We are going to be extremely busy over the next 12 months and if anyone feels they have skills to offer this project then now is the time to get in touch! You can always find us either at this email address, or come on down to the monthly Farmer’s market and have a chat with us.
We are grateful for the support we have received along the way so far and look forward to the day when the doors of the Police Station can be open again.
