A DECISION on one of the largest housing developments in East Lothian’s history has been delayed – due to long-standing “flood risk concerns”.

Discussions surrounding the creation of Blindwells have been ongoing for at least a decade.

Plans were submitted to East Lothian Council for the potential new town, between Tranent, Prestonpans and Longniddry, more than two years ago.

A first phase of 1,600 new homes and a new school has been mooted; if approved, thousands more homes could follow in later years.

Late last year, the applicant, Hargreaves Surface Mining Ltd, told the Courier that the planning application would come before the authority’s February planning meeting, which took place on Tuesday.

However, the proposals – which, in their current form, have attracted an objection from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) which is unhappy at the proposed drainage strategy – were not on the meeting’s agenda.

A spokesman for SEPA said: “SEPA is currently working with East Lothian Council and the applicants for the new Blindwells settlement near Tranent to discuss concerns surrounding the management of surface water and flood risk at the site.

“These concerns centre on the current drainage strategy for the development, which at present may place buildings and the public at risk of flooding – contrary to the Scottish Planning Policy – resulting in SEPA’s present objection to the planning application.”

Councillor Norman Hampshire, who chairs the committee, told the Courier: “There is still clarification [needed] on the issue around a permanent solution for taking the water off the site.

“The site is on an old open cast site and mining area and there is quite a lot of underground water on that site.”

Mr Hampshire was hopeful that, once this issue was overcome, the proposals would come before the planning committee for determination.

The Dunbar and East Linton ward member acknowledged discussions surrounding the potential redevelopment of Blindwells had been ongoing for several years.

Plans in 2010 looked at the possibility of 1,600 homes being built on the site, although none have been built.

Mr Hampshire told the Courier it was “a complicated site” and felt that discussions about the potential of a new settlement at Blindwells had perhaps begun too early before issues were resolved.

He added: “The public have been reading about this for such a long time that until they see somebody on the ground they will not believe much.”

Shortly before Christmas, Iain Slater, development and estates director with Hargreaves, told the Courier: “This is the next chapter in the development of the Blindwells site, which will see over £100m invested over the next 15 years.

“The project will have such a positive impact on the community, creating jobs and income for businesses nearby and in the supply chain.

“Should everything go to plan at the committee, we would expect initial earthworks to commence in the summer.”