Action Porty, an Edinburgh-based community group, is set to purchase the former Portobello Old Parish Church and halls.

The group is set to become the first organisation in an urban area to benefit from community right to buy powers under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Action Porty is planning to transform the site into a multi-use community hub.

While community right to buy powers have been used across rural Scotland, this deal is the first of its kind to proceed to purchase in a city.

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Ian Cooke, Action Porty Director, said: "We are delighted to be the first urban community to use the community right to buy, but sincerely hope that we will be the first of many. Given the commercial interest in the property, it is highly unlikely that the community would have been able to acquire the Bellfield site without this support."

Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "Congratulations to Action Porty on obtaining consent to proceed with the community right to buy of the former Portobello Old Parish Church and halls. 

"Land is one of our most valuable assets and land reform has already delivered significant benefits to rural communities across Scotland. It gives me great pleasure to grant consent to Action Porty for a community right to buy in Edinburgh and I look forward to seeing the group’s plans to construct a community hub progress."

(LM)