WORK to transform Gullane’s former fire college should get under way within a matter of weeks, after a final planning hurdle was overcome.

One-hundred-and-twenty-five new homes will be built on the brownfield site, with the iconic former fire college HQ on Main Street, Henderson House, to be retained.

East Lothian Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the latest set of plans at their last meeting, which paves the way for work to get under way soon.

Central to the proposals has been the sensitive renovation of landmark Henderson House for housing, as well as the on-site provision of 31 affordable homes.

Developer CALA has also pledged to invest £1,843,000 towards local education and other public facilities.

Craig Lynes, land director at CALA Homes (East), said: “Henderson House is a much-loved building; although not listed, it is a local landmark and building of importance, having played several roles in its history.

“Because of this, at the public consultation and throughout our engagements with the community, we’ve heard from a good number of locals relieved at the plans for the sensitive restoration planned for Henderson House.

“Many Gullane residents have also expressed early interest in securing a move – as this project offers a range of bespoke products to include a large number of downsizing opportunities that have been in very short supply in recent years.

“We look forward to continued engagement with the local residents during the redevelopment of this site in a planned and considered manner, to ensure that inconvenience is kept to a minimum.”

Further plans are also being considered for two sites on the edge of the village.

Saltcoats Field, to the south of the village, has been earmarked for about 130 homes, while Fenton Gait East could see another 50 homes built.

At the planning committee meeting, ward councillor Jim Goodfellow, who had raised slight concerns about the route that construction vehicles would take to the former fire college site, was the first to back the scheme.

He said: “This application is welcome in the main from the community.

“There was a great fear in the community that this site might be allowed to lie in dereliction and the greenfield sites around would be dealt with first.

“The fact it has come forward to the committee first has received a fair amount of support from the community.”

Ward colleague Councillor David Berry also had concerns regarding access to the site.

One access point will come from Main Street, with two further accesses coming off Muirfield Drive.

Mr Berry described it as “a fairly major site” but felt the access off the A198 (Main Street) was potentially dangerous.

But he added: “I find this as a way of redeveloping the site is acceptable and I have every intention to vote to support it.”

The 125 homes will consist of a wide range of apartments, mews, terraced units, semi-detached and detached housing. It will comprise bespoke homes designed specifically for this site and location.

Most recently used as Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s College, the site was originally a hotel and will retain its distinctive look in CALA’s site plan that aims to blend its latest development with the existing village.

Work on-site to demolish existing buildings will start imminently, with the first homes completed in late summer 2018.

CALA say it plans to soon begin work to sensitively redevelop Henderson House alongside the building of bespoke homes within the former fire college grounds.