East Lothian Council is consulting on proposals for three buildings held in Common Good for Musselburgh and reinvestment of resulting income into the town’s fund.
In brief:
- proposals to sell or lease Stoneyhill Community Centre and two propoperties in New Street, Musselburgh open for consultation
- the properties are all empty and in need of upgrade
- as the properties are all common good assets, income would be reinvested into Musselburgh Common Good Fund
“By leasing or selling Stoneyhill Community Centre and selling the New Street properties we can reinvest the money received into Musselburgh Common Good Fund to benefit the community.”
Stoneyhill Community Centre and 118 and 118A New Street are all Musselburgh Common Good assets. The properties are all empty and in need of upgrade.
Stoneyhill Community Centre is a grade-C listed two-storey sports and recreation hall built in 1924/25 following a philanthropic contribution to the community by Inveresk Paper Mills. Musselburgh RFC managed the building as a community resource centre which was used by a number of local groups. The property was refurbished in 2012 to provide new catering and toilet facilities with new fire exit and mobility access ramps also installed. It closed in 2019 and used on a temporary basis in 2021 as a Covid testing centre. It would be leased or sold in its existing condition with the new leaseholder or owner required to carry out essential improvement works and ongoing maintenance.
118 New Street is a ground floor retail/office unit within a detached sandstone building close to North High Street in a predominantly residential area; 118A is a smaller self-contained office to its rear. The properties have been home to various businesses over the years including a green grocer, building company’s office and Chinese medicine and physiotherapy clinic. The properties have been empty since their leases expired in 2015 and are in need of significant upgrade.
By law, public consultation is required under section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 for Common Good assets before any new lease or sale can be progressed. The income would be reinvested into Musselburgh Common Good Fund.
People are being asked whether they are in favour or opposed to the proposals to sell or lease Stoneyhill Community Centre and sell 118 and 118A New Street, and their reasons if applicable.
An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “These buildings are all empty and in need of various levels of upgrade to make them tenantable. Although they are surplus to our own requirements, they can be useful and valuable spaces to the right person due to their positions within their respective areas and the possibilities that offers.
“By leasing or selling Stoneyhill Community Centre and selling the New Street properties we can reinvest the money received into Musselburgh Common Good Fund to benefit the community.”
East Lothian has four Common Good Funds: Dunbar, Haddington, Musselburgh and North Berwick which are administered by a Common Good Committee. The Funds’ main function is to allow for the maintenance and repair of Common Good assets. They can also provide money to support activities and events which will benefit the inhabitants of the former burghs. Musselburgh is the largest of the funds with a budget of £150,000 for 2025/26. The area of each common good fund is defined by Burgh maps from 1973 and only residents or organisations that live or operate within these areas can apply for common good funding.
The consultations are available until 8 April 2026 on the council’s consultation hub www.eastlothianconsultations.co.uk