A MASSIVE expansion of Haddington featuring nearly 1,000 new homes, a primary school and shops has been given the green light.

Farmland at Letham Mains, on the town’s western edge, was first earmarked for development more than a decade ago and plans for 642 houses and 167 flats were finally approved by East Lothian Council on Tuesday. A new primary school will be built at the heart of the new development.

At the same meeting, councillors also gave final approval for 109 houses and four flats at nearby Dovecot Farm, on Pencaitland Road.

The site at Letham Mains will be bordered on the north side by the B6071 and to the south by Pencaitland Road. As well as houses and a school, it will also include a football pitch and parkland, among other amenities.

The Letham scheme – put forward by CALA Management Ltd, Mactaggart and Mickel, Taylor Wimpey and Classhappy Ltd, as well as East Lothian Council – could be, some hope, the catalyst for supermarket giant Sainsbury’s to start work on its long-awaited superstore and petrol station at nearby Gateside.

This housing explosion is expected to increase Haddington’s 9,000 population by about a third, and be a massive boost to town centre shops.

But some concerns remain about the strain it could place on essential services. A new community hospital is, as reported in the Courier, due to be built in the town.

Ward councillors Ludovic Broun-Lindsay and John McMillan were both at the meeting and were happy to see progress being made on the site.

A MASSIVE expansion of Haddington featuring nearly 1,000 new homes, a primary school and shops has been given the green light.

Farmland at Letham Mains, on the town’s western edge, was first earmarked for development more than a decade ago and plans for 642 houses and 167 flats were finally approved by East Lothian Council on Tuesday. A new primary school will be built at the heart of the new development.

At the same meeting, councillors also gave final approval for 109 houses and four flats at nearby Dovecot Farm, on Pencaitland Road.

The site at Letham Mains will be bordered on the north side by the B6071 and to the south by Pencaitland Road. As well as houses and a school, it will also include a football pitch and parkland, among other amenities.

The Letham scheme – put forward by CALA Management Ltd, Mactaggart and Mickel, Taylor Wimpey and Classhappy Ltd, as well as East Lothian Council – could be, some hope, the catalyst for supermarket giant Sainsbury’s to start work on its long-awaited superstore and petrol station at nearby Gateside.

This housing explosion is expected to increase Haddington’s 9,000 population by about a third, and be a massive boost to town centre shops.

But some concerns remain about the strain it could place on essential services. A new community hospital is, as reported in the Courier, due to be built in the town.

Ward councillors Ludovic Broun-Lindsay and John McMillan were both at the meeting and were happy to see progress being made on the site.

Provost Mr Broun-Lindsay said: “It has been a long time coming and a lot of work has gone into trying to address all potential concerns; on balance, I feel it should go ahead and will be supporting it.” Speaking after the meeting, Mr McMillan, spokesman for economic development and tourism, was eager to see work begin. He said: “Hopefully, this is a well-planned and thought out development.

“I think it creates a community and neighbourhood there as well and we are really lucky in the quality of our schools.

“A school is needed for this development and it just shows the thought that has gone into planning this.

“It has been a long time coming and hopefully it starts other economic development.

“It might encourage Sainsbury’s and so on and it needs to integrate those people into the community and town centre and trade locally; it is a real opportunity.” CALA will develop the eastern side of the site, covering a total of 21 hectares.

Derek Lawson, land director with CALA Homes (East) told the Courier: “We are extremely pleased that the careful process of community consultation and working closely with planning officers has now come to fruition. We have listened to feedback during the entire process, taken that on board and reflected it in the designs which have been approved.

“We now look forward to delivering a development which will offer a range of housing, is appropriate for the setting and benefits Haddington.” The developer is “hopeful” work could start on the site early next year. The Cala site will be made up of 167 detached houses, 30 semi-detached properties, 46 terraced homes, 14 town houses and 119 flats, including affordable housing.

On the 19.2-hectare western side of the site, Pauline Mills, land and planning director for Taylor Wimpey, told the Courier there was no date confirmed for work to begin as technical consents still had to be agreed.

However, she vowed the developers would keep the public “fully abreast” of the plans.

The plot will be made up of 385 homes – broken down into 178 detached houses, 98 semi-detached houses, 109 terraced houses – and 48 flats; with 74 of the units described as affordable housing.

Mrs Mills said: “This is a significant development for the local area, and it will provide a mix of two and three-bedroom terraced homes, as well as three, four and five-bedroom detached homes, plus 17 per cent affordable housing to ensure there is a wide choice of homes to appeal to a range of audiences.

“In conjunction with the adjacent development, we will provide funding for a primary school.” Charles Church, land manager at Mactaggart and Mickel Homes, added: “The development will not only offer a diverse range of quality housing but also contribute to a new school and improvements in the surrounding infrastructure, benefiting both existing residents and those attracted to move into the area.” The developers have agreed to pay a seven-figure contribution towards education in the town.

A total of £9,225,154 will go towards the primary school provision, with a further £1,579,500 towards additional secondary school accommodation at nearby Knox Academy.

On top of that, more than £500,000 will go towards the expansion of the Aubigny Sports Centre, with £71,100 towards upgrading works to the path network around Letham Mains.

The CALA site will be bisected by the Letham Burn and the plans include creating a park which will run along both banks, including footpaths and a children’s play area.

An open area, to the south of the site, will also feature a full size football pitch, with a pavilion changing area.

The unnamed primary school, which is at the heart of the site, will also include a nursery, 14 classrooms and could be home to 380 pupils.

MSP Iain Gray said: “I think that Haddington residents accepted the plans for Letham Mains a long time ago, and at least this development is contributing to the town’s infrastructure with a new primary school.” The politician, who lives in Haddington, also encouraged Sainsbury’s to build its store at nearby Gateside, for which it has planning permission.

He added: “That is also a project which I believe local people not only accept but want to see happen. Sainsbury’s made promises to the town and I would like to see them get on with it!” Sainsbury’s declined to comment on the approval of the plans.

Jan Wilson, chair of the town’s community council, said: “We just hope Haddington does not grow too big and is no longer a small town, potentially the best small town in Scotland.” Joe Forte, from the town’s business association, felt the influx of people could benefit the town but agreed the infrastructure needed to expand as well.

He said: “People [who move in] will hopefully come and integrate into the community.

“The scare is a development on the edge of towns becomes a community in itself but I think we have got such a strong town centre and they would support it.” Pictured is an artist's impression of a park at the new Letham development