AN OBJECTION to one of the largest housing developments in East Lothian’s history has been withdrawn.

Discussions surrounding the creation of a new town at the former opencast mine at Blindwells have been ongoing for several years and plans were due to come before East Lothian Council’s planning committee earlier this month.

However, long-standing “flood risk concerns” meant the plans, which would see 1,600 new homes and a new school, were not included in the committee’s agenda.

Last Monday, a spokesman for the applicant, Hargreaves Surface Mining Ltd, said the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) had withdrawn its objection.

That could open the door to the proposals for the site, between Tranent, Prestonpans and Longniddry, being considered at one of the two local authority planning committee meetings next month.

A spokesman for SEPA confirmed that the objection had been removed, after more information was provided by Hargreaves in relation to flood risk at the site.

Planning committee meetings are scheduled to take place on March 7 and March 28, ahead of the local authority elections.

Plans for the site have been discussed for many years, with proposals in 2010 looking at the possibility of 1,600 homes being built.

Further discussions have also taken place with a view to more housing being built on the east of the site, towards the B6363 and Raceland, near Macmerry and Gladsmuir.

At the end of last year, Hargreaves told the Courier more than £100 million would be invested at Blindwells over the next 15 years.

Iain Slater, development and estates director, said: “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.”