CONTROVERSIAL plans for more than 100 new homes on the outskirts of East Linton have been given the green light on appeal.

Developers have been keen to build 93 houses and 20 further flats next to Orchardfield, on the western edge of the village.

East Lothian Council’s planning committee opted to defer a decision on Stewart Milne Homes’ proposals while consideration was given towards the idea of a roundabout or substantial junction improvements being carried out at the junction of the A199 and B1407.

But the developers instead appealed to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), which has now issued a notice of intention to grant permission.

Dunpender Community Council is due to meet this evening (Thursday) where the issue will be discussed but secretary Jon Swift said: “We had agreed an acceptable amount for the whole of the Dunpender area and we had suggested that we could take 150 houses over the whole area over the 10 years of the Local Development Plan – 113 homes did not fit in with small and integrated development.”

The 93 houses on the site will be made up of 64 detached homes, 16 semi-detached and 13 terraced.

Twenty-two will have five bedrooms, with 36 four-bedroom houses, 33 three-bedroom properties and two homes with two bedrooms.

The council’s planning committee discussed the plans in March, with the developer lodging its appeal about a month later.

READ MORE: Housing development plans appealed

Councillor Stuart Currie was among those leading the call for a roundabout to be explored.

Scottish Government-appointed reporter Christopher Warren highlighted there had been “a substantial number of representations” regarding the proposed vehicle access to the site off the B1407.

Mr Warren said: “I spent time observing how drivers were making the left turn from the eastbound A199 onto the B1407 and additionally I made the same manoeuvre.

“It was apparent that vehicles could make this turn without slowing, with traffic only tending to noticeably slow as it approached the current starting point of the 30mph limit on the B1407.

“However, I got no impression that an alternative junction layout, requiring eastbound traffic on the A199 to slow in advance of turning left onto the B1407, would compromise road safety.

“Whilst the junction is at the bottom of a long descent down Pencraig Brae on the A199 (which is subject to the national speed limit) it is not a particularly steep gradient and the road is straight, offering clear visibility of the approaching junction.

“It is not unusual, indeed it is often the norm, for vehicles to have to slow before making a turn from one road to another and I see no obvious reason why doing so in this instance would present any greater risk of accidents, particularly given the measures proposed to ensure the revised layout is obvious to drivers as they approach.”

The 30mph limit will be extended westwards as part of the plans.

Following the decision, Mr Currie said: “They have chosen to appeal and that is their right.

“In my view, any developer who wants to build houses should really want to work with the community and work with the council.

“The community is their potential customers.”

Gerry More, managing director for Stewart Milne Homes Central, said: “The approval supports the council’s emerging Local Development Plan review for East Lothian and will bring forward a major investment into the local economy over the next four years, which includes 28 affordable homes.

“It is hoped work can begin by the middle of next year.”