Future High Level Timelines

2025 and beyond will see GMDT:

• Apply for capital funding to undertake staged planning and development work for the reopening of Gracemount Mansion and grounds
• Progress architectural planning, surveying, and project planning activities
• Establish project teams and produce more detailed timeframes for development work
• Continue delivering community events and regular activities on site and delivering a programme of focussed community engagement, learning and training initiatives, working with stakeholders, community partners, members and volunteers

To Date

During 2020, an initial steering group consisting different interested parties was formed, shortly followed by a local community group Friends of the Mansion (FoM). FoM was established to gauge interest in reopening the Mansion site as a hub for the community.  A number of community meetings were held, community consultations and events which have continued since. Our latest FoM community meeting pack can be found here

March 2021 – an Expression of Interest was submitted to City of Edinburgh Council for the Community Asset Transfer of the Mansion House, Stable Blocks, and surrounding greenspaces, including the Walled Garden and Gracemount Park

Throughout 2021 – various public events were held and community consultations undertaken. This fed into ‘Our Gracemount’ report

October 2022 – Scottish Land Funding (SLF) was awarded to GMDT. This enabled GMDT to appoint Michael Collins LLP architects, undertake QS work and develop business plans. This project work continued for 6 months through to end of March 2023.  During this time we also delivered a series of community consultation roadshows to further community engagement, the  output fed into  ‘Have your Say’ report

April 2023 – GMDT received funding from AHF (Architectural Heritage Fund) which allowed GMDT to undertake further project viability work, including more detailed architectural plans, QS costings, business planning and business development work through engaging potential anchor tenants. This work was used to support our Community Asset Transfer application.

July 2023 – GMDT submitted our Community Asset Transfer application to the City of Edinburgh Council for the  transfer of ownership of Gracemount Mansion House and surrounding grounds.

November 2023 – On 1st November 2023, GMDT held our inaugural AGM. We invited all 75 charity members, with the meeting extended to the wider 'friends of the mansion'.  The meeting was quorate and went ahead.

January 2024 - we were delighted to have received confirmation that the CAT application had been approved by CEC finance and resource committee.

February 2024 + -  working with our legal team and CEC, we are in negotiations to take ownership of Gracemount Mansion and ground. It is anticipated that GMDT will take ownership from January 2025.

April 2024 - GMDT were delighted to receive round 2 funding from Scottish Land Fund which has provided the much needed funding for GMDT to take ownership of Gracemount Mansion House (not yet undertaken in title), as well as some capital funding for essential repairs, and revenue funds to appoint a project manager, along with some running costs of the charity.  Our initial aim (further capital funding dependent) is to reopen parts of The Mansion on a meanwhile basis, until we get the funds that will allow us to fully reopen all of the Mansion in future years.

May 2024 and beyond - GMDT will progress plans for meanwhile use and apply for further capital funding that will allow essential work required to fully reopen the Mansion, for the community, by the community.

Our current business plan, and Condition Survey, Planning and Heritage Statement can be round here

Other work undertaken

Whilst The Mansion is not open we have been offering activities and events on site, with thanks for some of our funders:

• Lottery Community Fund
• National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Sports Scotland
• Edinburgh 900

as well as sponsorship and support from:

• Cameron Toll community fund and
• Scottish Storytelling Centre. 

Recent events include:

• Eco Storytelling under Cedar of Lebanon - July 2023
• Open doors - September 2023
• Community Coorie In – Nov 2023
• Feast of Stories - Nov 2023
• Xmas Orienteering – Dec 2023
• Christmas Coorie In – Dec 2023
• Burns Community Lunch – Jan 2024
• Spring Fling Ceilidh – March 2024
• Easter Orienteering – April 2024
• Teen trauma-informed yoga - ongoing
• Move, breathe, be in nature – mindfulness for adults - ongoing
• Doors open day - Oct 2024
• Halloween event - Nov 2024
• Christmas party - Dec 2024

Future High Level Timelines

If we are successful with our Community Asset Transfer, 2024 and beyond will see GMDT:

• Apply for capital funding to undertake staged planning and development work for the reopening of Gracemount Mansion House and grounds
• Progress architectural planning, surveying, and project planning activities
• Establish project teams and produce more detailed timeframes for development work
• Continue delivering community events and regular activities on site and delivering a programme of focussed community engagement, learning and training initiatives, working with stakeholders, community partners, members and volunteers