AMBITIOUS plans are being drawn up for a skatepark, climbing wall and bowling alley on the southern edge of Dunbar.

The multi-million-pound project is being led by theSpace Scotland, which wants to create the facility on farmland at Dunbear Point, sandwiched between the East Coast Main Line and the A1, to the east of Spott Road.

Members of the public have the opportunity to find out more about the proposals next month.

The group behind the scheme hopes that a planning application could be submitted to East Lothian Council by early next summer.

Among the proposals are a flexible rehearsal and performance auditorium suitable for cinema, gigs and theatre.

An indoor and outdoor skatepark, indoor bouldering climbing walls, four 10-pin bowling lanes, and indoor and outdoor cafe, bar and social spaces also feature.

READ MORE: Skatepark and bowling alley part of thespace plans unveiled

Adrian Girling, managing director of theSpace Scotland, felt that there was a demand for the facility to not only serve people in Dunbar but also wider East Lothian and into the Scottish Borders.

He said: “We will be presenting our ideas for theSpace Dunbar, including information about the-Space Scotland CIC, our site, planning issues, the potential social and economic impact of our plans and our funding strategy.

“We have our office base at Hallhill and we appreciate their support in hosting our public consultation events.

“We have been able to secure funding from a number of sources to cover some of our professional fee costs, including from Dunbar Community Council, Tyne Esk Rural Development Fund, the Scottish Land Fund and an East Lothian Council Regeneration Fund.

“We are grateful for the support and encouragement that all of these funders have provided.

“We need to keep the funding momentum going and we have a couple more applications under way and there will be many more to come.”

A public exhibition takes place at Hallhill Sports Centre, 2-8pm, on December 12, when members of the public can find out more about the organisation behind the plans.

A second exhibition is planned for April, where detailed designs will be unveiled for the first time.

The group has been working alongside EMA Architecture and Design Ltd to bring the plans together.

Mr Girling said that there was not a total cost for the project but it would be “multiple millions”.

He stressed that funding avenues would be explored, with theSpace Dunbar already having signed an exclusivity agreement with Eweford Farm for the site.

Mr Girling said: “We don’t underestimate the challenge of making our plans happen, but we have a great team, a big idea, patience to take little steps, a collaborative landowner and the power of the community behind us, so we know that we have a chance of taking it all the way.

“No community can create a venture like theSpace without a whole community effort. theSpace Dunbar will be for all of our community, powered by youth, supported by experienced collaborators and it has the potential to be a beacon for what communities can achieve when they gather around an ambitious plan and work together with determination.”

theSpace Scotland CIC is a locally based community interest company registered two years ago.

Its directors are based in Dunbar and across East Lothian and have experience in supporting young people in their communities.

Previously, there was a temporary skate park at Phantassie over two summers in 2009 and 2010.

Then theSPACE in North Berwick was created in the old Ben Sayers Factory, on the town’s Tantallon Road, before the lease ended in 2015.

READ MORE: Popular youth facility theSPACE could find a new home in Dunbar

Mr Girling added: “We did a big public consultation in 2022 and we got a really good response, a really positive response and a really encouraging response.

“Dunbar Community Council and Dunbar Trades’ Association have also done a big survey for the Local Place Plan.

“I have not seen the outcome but a lot of that will be pointing to the kind of thing we are trying to do and we have support from within the community.

“It is important to remember we are not trying to create a youth hub or a youth club.

“It is a community space powered by young people and it has got young people at the heart of it.”