PLANS to create a ‘living square’ outside the former Co-op building in Tranent town centre have been given a £150,000 boost, thanks to a local action group.

The project, which aims to transform Tranent town centre, is being headed by George and Susan Thomson, who are currently carrying out work to renovate the former Co-op – on the corner of High Street and Church Street – into a mixture of a shop, Post Office, cafe and community rooms, as well as providing social housing and private flats.

The living square project aims to transform a square, which looks on to the town’s High Street, by creating a large outdoor canopy to the front of the new proposed cafe, and introducing hanging baskets.

Mr Thomson said that the funding, which came from Tyne Esk Leader, meant that the work could begin in earnest, with the possibility of having it completed by autumn this year.

He said: “We were delighted Leader agreed with our vision and decided to contribute towards our project.

“We feel the town centre will look much more alive and welcoming once the new premises are open.

“It will lose the rundown look it has had for too many years and will hopefully attract new people into the area, both during the day and in the evenings.

“It will be much more bright and cheerful, as Tranent in Bloom will be designing and maintaining floral displays around the living square.

“The Remembrance Day event and the Christmas tree celebration will be held in the living square.

“Because there will be a large outdoor canopy, it will help those planning events to do so without having to take account of inclement weather conditions.

“We hope to welcome many community and charity events to the space and anticipate very diverse events. In fact, we are looking forward to seeing the ideas local people come up with.”

Mr Thomson, who bought the building in late-2015, previously told the Courier he wanted to make the building “at the heart of the community”, and had initially hoped it would be finished by the end of last year.

The work at the former Co-op comes as moves to refurbish The Fraser Centre are also under way. A decision on whether the centre will receive funding from Tyne Esk Leader is expected this month.