CONTROVERSIAL proposals for more than 750 homes on the western edge of Haddington are expected to be with East Lothian Council this summer.

Early plans for land at South Gateside, north of the A6093 Pencaitland Road and to the west of the already-approved but not yet built Letham Mains development, were on display for the first time recently.

Clarendon Planning and Development showcased the proposals in Haddington’s Trinity Centre, with about 100 interested members of the public coming along to have a look at the plans.

Among those in attendance was James Stretton, who handed over a petition, signed by 32 of 40 residents at Letham Mains Holdings opposing the plans, which look at building 755 houses.

He said: “The exhibition did not tell us anything very much that we did not know before. It was just three display boards, all of which are now available on the Clarendon website.

“The proposals are really not worked out at all and at an extremely sketchy stage, and that is what the proposal showed.”

Paul Darling, planning liaison officer with the town’s community council, was also present. He said he was concerned the new homes would see Haddington becoming increasingly stretched, with the development two kilometres from the town centre.

The display boards were set up in the Church Street venue, with one reading: “It is anticipated that an application for planning in principle will be submitted to East Lothian Council in the first half of the year.”

Very few details were given about the proposed site, which measures 31 hectares.

One display board reads: “The site is for housing, including affordable housing provision with associated structural planting, landscaped open space and supporting community uses.”

The site would be split into three development areas.

One phase looks at an area for potentially 275 homes to the south-west of the already-approved Letham Mains.

That area has been confirmed as an allocated site within East Lothian Council’s Local Development Plan.

The remaining two sites, to the west of Letham Mains, look at potentially 480 houses, with that area outwith the Local Development Plan.

Antony Duthie, director with Clarendon, said: “We were pleased the first consultation was so well-attended, underscoring the value pre-application engagement adds to the planning process.

“Unusually, this project is landowner-led, positively affording greater flexibility at the outset in terms of the masterplanning exercise.

“East Lothian, as well as neighbouring Lothian authorities have challenging targets to achieve in respect of housing completions set by the Government.

“Pressure for settlement growth, and the positive associated economic activity that same generates, is not exclusively focused on Haddington, but many settlements within the wider Edinburgh ‘City Region’ given the unmet demand for new housing.

“Proposals are at an evolutionary stage and, whilst primarily focused on the delivery of quality housing, will incorporate other sustainable complementary land uses facilitated through this unique landowner initiative.

“More detail will be available at the second event, informed by a suite of technical and environmental studies which are under way.”