St Mungo’s Gateway Project – St Mungo’s Church have been a presence in the Balerno are for nearly 170 years, and Rev Ollie Clegg told Balerno Community Council (BCC) that the Church is considering applying for planning permission to build a church on land bequeathed to them in 1942 opposite Balerno High School.
Rev Clegg told the August meeting of BCC that their Gateway Project was at a concept design stage and that locals may have seen workmen on the site doing tests to determine where best to site the building.
A transport consultant has been engaged to look both at access given that the site has only one entrance and exit and there is not an alternative, and also at parking issues.
Outline plans included a sanctuary for 400, around five separate rooms and offices for staff and it is proposed that the church should both continue to provide counselling services and should also be able to act as a community hub.
The church building might cover around one-third of the field which would be landscaped.
Rev Clegg said an average of 220 attend services at the current location in Balerno High School but attendances vary between 180 and 350. Christmas events can draw a bigger congregation and attendees are between 60 and 70 per cent from the local area and 30 per cent from out with Balerno.
St Mungo’s use a school in Livingston for services there and the intention is to be able to bring both groups together in Balerno under one roof for one-off services and special occasions.
Preliminary planning talks are, he said, underway with City of Edinburgh Council planners and he stressed that the church is fully aware that the site is in a conservation area.
A decision on whether to go ahead with the project is, he said, likely to be taken in the Spring of 2026.
Historical note: St Mungo’s Church in Balerno was originally established as a school in the early 19th century and it later became an Episcopal church, sharing the name with the patron saint of Glasgow. The existing church was built in 1869 and is a listed building.
Local Place Plan- The Community Council is taking forward plans to develop a Local Place Plan for Balerno. This would aim to set out how the Balerno community would see its future developing in the context of Edinburgh Council’s City Plan 2030.The plan preparation will likely involve the Community Council seeking local opinion including at the monthly Farmers Market.
Christmas lights: Balerno Community Council will, once again, light up Balerno at Christmas. The lights are being checked and contacts being made with Dean Park choir and with the Balerno and District Schools Pipe Band. Dates will be confirmed shortly.
Green Bridge: Balerno Community Council chair, Richard Henderson, confirmed that the Green Bridge project is now almost complete, with only some minor work still to be carried out on the approach ramps in particular to allow the surface of those paths to settle.
The bridge is open for pedestrians and at this stage no official opening is planned but talks are under way regarding the possible provision of benches and the reinstatement of paths on both the west and the east sides of the burn.
Unkept gardens: Residents have contacted the Balerno Community Council regarding unkept gardens in Balerno and Balerno Community Council have agreed to write to the City of Edinburgh Council asking them to invoke regulations to instruct that they be tidied-up.
Concern over roads and pavements last winter: The cold snap earlier this year led to complaints from local residents regarding the lack of gritting on pavements and roads. Balerno Community Council are endeavouring to arrange a meeting with the City of Edinburgh Council to ensure that the impact of severe weather on the area is minimised this winter.
Weeds: The issue of weeds on streets was again raised and it was noted that Balerno is not the only area in the city where they are a problem. Councillor Graeme Bruce was in attendance at the meeting.
Balerno Police Station update: Balerno Village Trust representatives on the Community Council reported on progress towards acquiring the police station building from Police Scotland.
Plans to convert the building into a community centre featuring meeting spaces, a workshop and an after-school club have been lodged with the City of Edinburgh Council and details are on planning applications dated July 21, 2025.
Changes to the building fabric include the maintenance as well as the addition of PV cells on the roof, improvements to toilet provision and changes to signage at the building which is between 13 and 15 Bridge Road. Comments are due by August 15.
The unkept state of the garden area was commented upon at the meeting.
Good Neighbour Agreement with Tarmac The Community Council are also in touch with Tarmac, operators of Ravelrig Quarry, about entering into a Good Neighbour Agreement which would involve establishing a Community Liaison Group involving local residents.
PICTURE: the field opposite Balerno High School being considered as the site for St Mungo's Church
Rev Clegg told the August meeting of BCC that their Gateway Project was at a concept design stage and that locals may have seen workmen on the site doing tests to determine where best to site the building.
A transport consultant has been engaged to look both at access given that the site has only one entrance and exit and there is not an alternative, and also at parking issues.
Outline plans included a sanctuary for 400, around five separate rooms and offices for staff and it is proposed that the church should both continue to provide counselling services and should also be able to act as a community hub.
The church building might cover around one-third of the field which would be landscaped.
Rev Clegg said an average of 220 attend services at the current location in Balerno High School but attendances vary between 180 and 350. Christmas events can draw a bigger congregation and attendees are between 60 and 70 per cent from the local area and 30 per cent from out with Balerno.
St Mungo’s use a school in Livingston for services there and the intention is to be able to bring both groups together in Balerno under one roof for one-off services and special occasions.
Preliminary planning talks are, he said, underway with City of Edinburgh Council planners and he stressed that the church is fully aware that the site is in a conservation area.
A decision on whether to go ahead with the project is, he said, likely to be taken in the Spring of 2026.
Historical note: St Mungo’s Church in Balerno was originally established as a school in the early 19th century and it later became an Episcopal church, sharing the name with the patron saint of Glasgow. The existing church was built in 1869 and is a listed building.
Local Place Plan- The Community Council is taking forward plans to develop a Local Place Plan for Balerno. This would aim to set out how the Balerno community would see its future developing in the context of Edinburgh Council’s City Plan 2030.The plan preparation will likely involve the Community Council seeking local opinion including at the monthly Farmers Market.
Christmas lights: Balerno Community Council will, once again, light up Balerno at Christmas. The lights are being checked and contacts being made with Dean Park choir and with the Balerno and District Schools Pipe Band. Dates will be confirmed shortly.
Green Bridge: Balerno Community Council chair, Richard Henderson, confirmed that the Green Bridge project is now almost complete, with only some minor work still to be carried out on the approach ramps in particular to allow the surface of those paths to settle.
The bridge is open for pedestrians and at this stage no official opening is planned but talks are under way regarding the possible provision of benches and the reinstatement of paths on both the west and the east sides of the burn.
Unkept gardens: Residents have contacted the Balerno Community Council regarding unkept gardens in Balerno and Balerno Community Council have agreed to write to the City of Edinburgh Council asking them to invoke regulations to instruct that they be tidied-up.
Concern over roads and pavements last winter: The cold snap earlier this year led to complaints from local residents regarding the lack of gritting on pavements and roads. Balerno Community Council are endeavouring to arrange a meeting with the City of Edinburgh Council to ensure that the impact of severe weather on the area is minimised this winter.
Weeds: The issue of weeds on streets was again raised and it was noted that Balerno is not the only area in the city where they are a problem. Councillor Graeme Bruce was in attendance at the meeting.
Balerno Police Station update: Balerno Village Trust representatives on the Community Council reported on progress towards acquiring the police station building from Police Scotland.
Plans to convert the building into a community centre featuring meeting spaces, a workshop and an after-school club have been lodged with the City of Edinburgh Council and details are on planning applications dated July 21, 2025.
Changes to the building fabric include the maintenance as well as the addition of PV cells on the roof, improvements to toilet provision and changes to signage at the building which is between 13 and 15 Bridge Road. Comments are due by August 15.
The unkept state of the garden area was commented upon at the meeting.
Good Neighbour Agreement with Tarmac The Community Council are also in touch with Tarmac, operators of Ravelrig Quarry, about entering into a Good Neighbour Agreement which would involve establishing a Community Liaison Group involving local residents.
PICTURE: the field opposite Balerno High School being considered as the site for St Mungo's Church
