East Lothian Council is consulting on proposals for a new 40-year lease of Dunbar’s St Margaret’s House to Winterfield Golf Club.
Rent income for St Margaret’s House would continue to be paid into the Dunbar Common Good fund to benefit the community
The building is a Common Good asset that has been leased by the club since at least 1994 as their clubhouse. Rental income is reinvested into the town’s Common Good fund.
Winterfield Golf Club recently took over the management and maintenance of the golf course which, although it surrounds the property, is not a Common Good asset. The move followed a consultation with its members who voted in favour of taking over full operational control of the course and its buildings.
Terms have been agreed with the club for a 40-year lease of the course; the proposals for St Margaret’s House would align with this duration. As well as providing certainty for long-term planning, the move would offer Winterfield Golf Club opportunities to attract grant funding for its activities.
St Margaret’s House is a Common Good asset meaning, by law, the lease constitutes a ‘new disposal’ and public consultation is required for the property under section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Consultees are being asked whether they are in favour or opposed to the proposals for a new 40-year lease for St Margaret’s House and their reasons if applicable.
Future planning
An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Although legally this constitutes a ‘new disposal’ of a Common Good asset, in practice there would be no change to the current arrangement with Winterfield Golf Club which has been in place since at least 1994. Rent income for St Margaret’s House would continue to be paid into the Dunbar Common Good fund to benefit the community. However the long term stability that a 40-year lease offers will benefit the club’s future planning and its abilities to attract grant funding that will support its activities and investment in facilities. Not only is such funding unavailable to us as a local authority, it offers the club the opportunity to fully determine and deliver on its own priorities.”
The consultation is available online at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/st-margarets-house until Friday 19 September 2025.