PLANS to build 131 affordable homes on the south side of Dunbar have been given the go-ahead.

Land to the west of Brodie Road has been approved for a mix of what developer Mansell Homes says will be affordable houses and flats.

It is the first phase of plans to build up to 525 new homes on the land at Hallhill South West, as part of East Lothian Council’s strategic development plan.

Hundreds of new homes have already been built in the area in recent years.

And while amended plans for the first stage of this development were approved by the council’s planning committee this week, some concerns were raised about the lack of connection between the houses and Dunbar itself, as well as the decision to build all affordable housing in one estate.

Councillor Stuart Currie, leader of the opposition SNP Group, said that while he welcomed the planned new homes, he was disappointed there had not been a more “pepper pot” approach to the planning of the types of homes.

He said: “I would have preferred the affordable housing to be scattered throughout the whole area, rather than put in one place.” Keith Dingwall, the council’s principal planner, told councillors that the issue of whether to mix housing or keep affordable homes together had been the subject of debate over the years, but council officials found it was easier to manage the residences if they were together.

But that sparked independent councillor David Berry to accuse planners of being “too simplistic”.

He said: “It makes it easier for them to manage but we are talking about social engineering, how to create integration.

“We could have done better here.” Mr Berry also pointed to the fact the new houses were being built across the main east coast railway tracks, which lacked enough underpasses to connect residents to Dunbar itself.

He said: “We are confining the Hallhill development to a new town, which is not really a part of Dunbar.” Councillor Norman Hampshire, planning convenor and ward councillor, conceded there was a need for another underpass to take people into Dunbar from the new site, pointing out that he had argued for this in the past but had not won.

He said of the new development: “This is another strategic site that is going to start off.

“This is for affordable housing, which is much needed across East Lothian, and there are many families that will benefit from these houses when they are provided.”