Previous Proposals
2012-14 Proposals
During 2012-13 the Mavisbank Trust led attempts to develop and fund a £5M restoration project for Mavisbank. Following extensive consultations, the Trust put forward proposals, supported by conservation and business plans, as a first step towards saving Mavisbank House and Policies. These dealt with access, ownership, a consolidated and partially restore the house, delivery of a first phase of restoration to the landscape as an accessible greenspace, creation of a sustainable income from studio and holiday lets, offered traditional skills training, engaging the local community in meaningful research and restoration work, as well as support for vulnerable and under-privileged groups in exploring their heritage and playing a significant role in local community life.
Public access to the House and Policies was to be created through the formation of a new access route and an off-site car park for visitors. Key landscape features and walkways would be reinstated, with the Policies opened up as a Community Park linking to wider community initiatives along the valley of the North Esk and forming an important strategic element of the Lothians green network.
Visitor interpretation would be located at key intervals in the landscape and in a dedicated facility within the House which would also be used as a base for community and volunteer activity. Training, education and volunteer opportunities were integral to the project, both during construction and on completion of the works. Opportunities would be provided for a broad range of participants, from school pupils to adult volunteers, including traditional building skills and nature conservation.
Unfortunately, the Trust's grant application for development and project funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was unsuccessful and, consequently, a proposed £500,000 contribution from the Scottish Government towards the project was lost. The HLF grant's panel recognised the importance of Mavisbank and invited a further application subject to further development work and partner engagement. Despite various attempts, the Trust was unable to reconcile a number of major issues, including access and ownership, which prevented the project from being progressed further.
2002-05 Proposals
In 2002, a Feasibility Study and Economic Market Analysis were commissioned by the Edinburgh Green Belt Trust and funded by the Architectural Heritage Fund and Midlothian Council. A subsequent application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a Project Planning Grant in 2005 enabled a Conservation Plan and associated consultants’ and specialist reports to be prepared. At the same time, a local community consultation was carried out, through workshops, leaflet drops to local households and drop-in events. The consultation demonstrated widespread support for the Trust's proposals at that stage.
