MORE than 25 affordable homes will be handed over to East Lothian Council at a new development on the outskirts of Dunbar.

Taylor Wimpey has agreed a contract with the local authority to deliver 28 affordable homes for social rent at Belhaven Way.

The conclusion of the agreement has paved the way for a range of one and two-bedroom cottage flats, as well as two, three and four-bedroom terraced and semi-detached homes, to be built.

Work is expected to start in August, with the first handovers taking place in the summer of next year.

A further 36 affordable homes are planned for Belhaven Way.

Councillor Andy Forrest, East Lothian Council spokesperson for housing and property maintenance, welcomed the news.

He said: “Given the extreme pressures on the social housing sector in East Lothian, it is great news that these new homes will be available for social rent next year via East Lothian Council.

“We have always enjoyed a very positive relationship with Taylor Wimpey and the quality and energy efficiency of the homes is appreciated by tenants.”

Phil Cooper, land and planning director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, was also pleased to see progress being made.

He said: “Our latest agreement with East Lothian Council builds on our successful partnership with them over the years, which has seen us deliver affordable homes across the local area, including most recently at our Letham Meadows development in Haddington.

“As one of the largest housebuilders in the UK, we are committed to building more than homes and making sure that we add social, economic and environmental value to the wider communities that we operate in.

“The delivery of 28 affordable homes at our Belhaven Way development is part of that commitment.

“Construction work on these properties will get under way in August this year, and we expect to hand over the first of our completed properties to East Lothian Council next summer.”