The Greenway Microhub

Wester Hailes Growers are working with residents of Dumbryden, Murrayburn & Hailesland to create a community centre for the neighbourhood.  

The Greenway Microhub will be a small, flexible community space with an accessible toilet and facilities for a wide range of local activities. The hub will provide WHGC and the wider community with a place to organise and host events and activities throughout the year, including arts and crafts, community food activities, workshops, meetings and children’s parties.

We received planning permission for the Microhub in October 2025 and took ownership of the site through Community Asset Transfer in December 2025. We have now secured funding to build the Microhub and are preparing for construction to begin in Winter 2026/2027.

We are currently applying for additional funding to support staffing, training and community activities that could take place in the hub once it opens. If you would like to be involved, collaborate, or help shape future activities, please get in touch with Ellie via email greenway@westerhailesgrowing.org

Next Steps & ways to get involved

The project continues to develop through close collaboration between residents, partners and designers, with the aim of creating a welcoming and practical community space that supports local activity, connection and wellbeing. Thank you to everyone who has supported the project so far!

1. Share your ideas for the Microhub

We have been working on ideas for what might happen in the Microhub once it is opened in 2027 with local residents, greenway garden members, key partners. If you are a local resident or organisation that would like to use the space on a regular basis, please drop us an email

Add to a growing list of activities and ideas for the Microhub

2. Join the Microhub Sub-Group

Email us to join the sub-group to support us to make good decisions about the design, construction, management and use of the Microhub, greenway@westerhailesgrowing.org.

Background

In 2020, Wester Hailes Growing Communities commissioned City of Play Architects to work with local residents to prepare a masterplan for improvements to the greenspace and facilities around the Greenway between Murrayburn and Hailesland. The plan identified a lack of play opportunities and community facilities in Dumbryden, Murrayburn and Hailesland, and recommended the development of both an adventure playground and a new community hub.

In 2022, Wester Hailes Growing Communities commissioned Community Enterprise and Calum Duncan Architects to develop a business plan and design for 2 new buildings to form a ‘Greenway Hub’ including a new community centre and small workshop.

However, during 2023-24, major Scottish Government capital funding programmes were withdrawn. This made it difficult to secure the £2-3 million required to deliver the larger hub project.

In response, we decided to develop the smaller and more achievable building as a Microhub. In 2024, funding was secured to commission design work and technical studies to take the project through initial design and planning permission stages.

In September 2024, local residents joined a design workshop at the Greenway Garden led by project architect Calum Duncan. The session explored the purpose of the Microhub building, how it could be used, and the facilities it should include.

In July 2025, a planning application (25/03958/FUL) for the Microhub was submitted with planning permission granted in October 2025.

In September 2025, a part time development officer was appointed to progress the Microhub project.

In November 2025, A Funding Application submitted to the Regional Capital Grant Fund via Edinburgh Council for costs relating to the design and delivery of the Microhub.

In December 2025, WHGC took ownership of the site through a Community Asset Transfer.

In April 2026, Regional Capital Grant Funding was awarded to Wester Hailes Growing Communities to build the Microhub, with construction preparation now underway.

Key Project Documents

2025 Planning Permission Design & Access Statement

2024 Greenway Microhub Project Update

2023 Greenway Neighbourhood Hub Design Report

2022 Greenway Hub Business Plan

2020 City of Play – Greenway Park Study