PROPOSALS for 240 houses on the outskirts of Dunbar will not be considered by East Lothian Council until June at the earliest.

Robertson Homes, Bett Homes, Hallhill Development Ltd, QSH and Holder Planning were keen to see the plans for land to the south of Bowmont Terrace considered by the local authority’s planning committee last week.

However, the issue was not discussed, with the next planning committee meeting not taking place until June 7.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “We now have all the information we need to finalise a report on this application but other applications were complete sooner, allowing them to be prepared in time for April’s committee meeting.

“And as the agenda was already busy, they took priority.”

The site, which is sandwiched between the railway line and the A1087, is included in the Local Development Plan Draft Proposals, along with areas for housing at Hallhill and Beveridge Row.

However, the site has not won favour with everyone, with 10 objections being lodged with East Lothian Council.

Among those against the plans for the 10.8-hectare site is Gavin Wilson, who lives on Beachmont Place, which backs onto the proposed site.

He told the Courier he, along with a number of his neighbours, had objected to the plans, with fears that the site, which would be made up of two to five-bedroom detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, would look directly into their homes.

He said: “That is the main crux of our objection.”

Mr Wilson also highlighted the increase in traffic on Queen’s Road and feared many drivers would use the nearby Queen’s Place as a potential shortcut.

A public exhibition was held in the town’s Dunmuir Hotel in May last year, when dozens of people attended.

At that time, the developers were hopeful of the plans being determined by the end of 2015, with the first homes being built in autumn of this year.

Stephen Bunyan, chairman of the town’s community council, described the proposals as “a fairly sensible extension of Dunbar” and noted it would not add as much pressure on Spott Road as other developments, although it would add traffic to the nearby Queen’s Road.

Discussions have taken place with a view to improving access from the eastern side of the site, which is off the A1087.