WORK on a controversial housing scheme is expected to begin within a matter of months.

East Lothian Council’s planning committee gave the final go-ahead to plans for 90 new homes to be built on land between Belhaven and West Barns last Tuesday morning.

The decision is the latest step in a lengthy battle over housing on the site, off Edinburgh Road, with a number of residents raising concerns about flooding there, as well as the potential merging of the two communities.

In the end, only councillors Tim Day and David Berry abstained from making a decision, although a condition was added to see a road in the south-east corner of the site, which was previously earmarked for emergency use only, to become a fully-utilised road.

Planning permission in principle had previously been given on appeal by a Scottish Government-appointed reporter, with only the details of the housing to be decided by East Lothian’s councillors at the planning meeting.

READ MORE: Scottish Government approves Beveridge Row housing

In attendance was ward councillor Michael Veitch, who is not part of the planning committee and therefore was unable to vote on the issue.

He said: “During my five years as a member of this council, I can recall no planning application – indeed no issue of any sort – which has generated such widespread concern, indeed outrage, in my community as the decision to allow development in principle on this site.

“The appeal against non-determination and the subsequent granting of permission to build on this site, in the teeth of widespread and fierce opposition from local residents, the local community councils, and East Lothian Council itself, was a slap in the face for local democracy, and for the people of Belhaven and West Barns.”

Mr Veitch highlighted concerns about flooding on the site and the number of conditions put forward by the local authority attached to the proposals.

Mr Veitch, like Jacquie Bell, secretary of Dunbar Community Council, called for the plans to be turned down. Mrs Bell outlined concerns ranging from flooding and drainage to transportation and the potential of habitat loss.

Wrd councillor Norman Hampshire, chairman of the planning committee, called for the emergency-only road in the plans to be made permanent.

He said: “I'm saying they should come down Hospital Road and then connect into the new development and go round the distributor road and then out on to Edinburgh Road.”

Mr Hampshire felt this had two main benefits – taking traffic off Beveridge Row, which he felt was unsuitable for the increasing volume of vehicles using it, and taking traffic away from the junction of Shore Road, Edinburgh Road and Beveridge Row, where visibility was poor.

All members of the committee except Mr Day and Mr Berry voted to approve the housing plans.

The site will be made up of 78 houses and 12 two-bedroom flats. The houses will range from three bedrooms to five bedrooms, and it is hoped work could begin within a matter of months.

Craig Lynes, land director at developers CALA Homes (East), said: “We’ve worked in dialogue with the planning officials, offering additional clarity around technical, landscape and design matters throughout the processing of the application.

“We are now delighted to see the site get the go-ahead – and the boost to the housing supply as a result will benefit buyers across the local market, as it will also free up the homes of local people moving into the development.”

The scheme will see substantial financial contributions made to both Dunbar Grammar School and West Barns Primary School, while CALA has pledged improvements to the footpaths on Edinburgh Road to ensure pupils have a safer route to school.