Plans revealed for £5m football-themed homeless complex

Proposals have been unveiled to build a football-themed self management and personal development centre for people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh.The brainchild of Street Soccer Scotland founder David Duke, the Change Centre could see 32 en-suite bedrooms, living facilities and a community hub with six football pitches created at Morgan Playing Fields off Peffermill Road.A public consultation has been launched today to seek the views of residents with the complex expected to cost around £5 million to create.David Duke, who has personal experience of homelessness, has produced a plan in order to give homeless people the three essential things he believes they need in order to turn their lives around – security, relationships and purpose.The centre would be run using a social enterprise model, with those referred to the centre working alongside staff. Up to 30 jobs could be created as part of the proposals.The motto for the centre will be ‘the journey home starts here’ and will offer local people use of the facilities including a café and learning zones, as well as opportunities for local children and young people to use the centre, such as local schools and sports clubs.A planning application has yet to be submitted, however developers are preparing a community asset transfer request for the land, with the fields owned by City of Edinburgh Council.If approved, the Change Centre would be situated at the home of Edinburgh South Community Football Club, which already serves around 650 players in and around the community.