By Graeme Mutch

A DUNDEE CONGREGATION is pushing ahead with its efforts to build a new £600,000 church hall.

Plans for demolition of the existing building, which dates to the 19th century, and the erection of a new one at Barnhill St Margaret’s in Invermark Terrace have been lodged with Dundee City Council.

To help meet the cost the congregation is also seeking approval for a development of three four-bedroom houses within the church grounds, with access from Abercromby Street.

Although the submitted plans are by Broughty Ferry architects KDM, the developer is Dundee’s West Residential.

St Margaret’s minister the Reverend Fraser Stewart said the plans, which have to be rubber-stamped by the Church of Scotland general trustees, would allow St Margaret’s to provide 21st century facilities.

He said, “The present hall is just not up to scratch for modern usage and it was costing a lot to carry out repairs.”

The cost of the hall is being met by the sale of the land for the houses, reserves and donations from the congregation and friends.

Mr Stewart said, “We already have about 80% of the funds in place and we hope to launch our final fund-raising appeal in the new year.

“Now that we have a definite plan we can go to people and ask if they’d like to do things such as helping to provide equipment for the Sunday School room.”

He added that he hoped the work would get under way in the spring.

“Hopefully if all the permissions are granted we may have a nice Christmas present for next year.”

The final phase of the plans will see the existing manse sold and one of the new houses designated as a replacement.

“The houses will probably be built together after the hall, and the manse will be the last piece of the jigsaw,” Mr Stewart said.

He also stressed that the church would help the community groups which use the church hall to find alternative accommodation while the work is in progress.

He added, “We don’t know when the work will get under way but once we have a date we’ll all work together to help the groups.”

The minister added that the St Margaret’s playgroup—recently reported by The Courier as desperately seeking alternative accommodation —was confident of finding somewhere in the near future.

In 2003 the church submitted plans to build two church halls on the existing site, but it was forced to abandon them after being unable to meet the £700,000 cost.