SIXTEEN new council flats in Dunbar should be ready for people to live in within the next 12 months.

Ward councillor Norman Hampshire and East Lothian Council depute chief executive Monica Patterson met with Hart Builders’ managing director David Small and Gill Henry, head of business development, to cut the first turf at Kellie Road last Thursday afternoon.

Work on the site is already under way, with the council buying all of the homes when they are complete for council housing.

Mr Hampshire, council housing spokesman, highlighted the local authority’s dedication to ensuring it was being built.

“Things are really gathering pace in terms of new council housing in the county,” he said.

“The council delivered 120 new homes last year and another 75 new council homes will be built by March 2015.

“These 16 flats will make a very useful addition to council housing in Dunbar, particularly in terms of providing four very accessible ground-floor flats.

“I am delighted with the emphasis on energy efficiency in the new flats too – it doesn’t just take the sting out of heating bills but also supports a much more sustainable way of living – something which, as we all know, is very important to us here in Dunbar.” The site is at the east end of Kellie Road and close to the roundabout at Spott Road.

Planning permission was granted for the 0.4-hectare site in December 2012, with the housing expected to be complete within the next 12 months.

Each flat will be two-bedroom and be built in blocks of floor. Four of the ground-floor flats will have wet-floor showers to make them more accessible to anyone with mobility problems.

All of the flats will have energy-efficient heating systems and high levels of insulation, and each of the properties will receive £46,000 (a total of £736,000) in Council House Building Grant from the Scottish Government.

Mr Small added: “Hart Builders is delighted to continue our partnership working with the council and deliver 16 new homes for rent in Dunbar.

“By working closely with the council, we are able to deliver an ongoing programme of new highly sustainable homes which at the same time allows us to continue to invest in East Lothian and ensure we maximise local employment opportunities and apprenticeships in the area, which benefits the local community hugely.”