WORK on a development of more than 100 houses, business units and a pub/restaurant on the outskirts of Haddington is expected to start in the New Year.

Lengthy discussions were held by councillors on Tuesday morning before the PLOT (Haddington) LLP plans were given the go-ahead.

The site at the former Gateside Commerce Park, home to the former Mitsubishi factory, will be transformed, with a demolition warrant already in place for the building.

Then, 112 houses, 28 of which will be affordable housing, can be built, with 14 business units and a pub/restaurant, similar to the Pine Marten eaterie at Dunbar.

Ahead of the planning committee meeting, the developer highlighted that Gateside East was the only site in the town that had existing sewerage capacity and could deliver both housing and employment opportunities in the short term.

However, there were mixed views on whether the scheme should go ahead, with half a dozen councillors ultimately voting in favour of the recommendation to refuse the plans, with the remaining 13 giving it the go-ahead.

Among those with differing views were ward councillors John McMillan and Tom Trotter.

Mr McMillan (Lab) described it as “a difficult planning issue” and highlighted several other plans for housing developments around the town.

He said: “I think having the site as planned, with the provision of a pub and restaurant, challenges our work on town centres and on integration.

“I note the applicant’s comment about houses in the short term but I think jobs in the long term.” Mr Trotter (SNP) said he had been “wrestling with the positives and the negatives” of the application, which would see houses ranging from two to five bedrooms being built.

He said: “This area has lain desolate for some time due to the fact it has been kept for future industrial use. So far, it has not been an attractive proposition for any company to take on.

“Bearing in mind it was purpose-built for Mitsubishi many years ago, perhaps that has played a part in its unsuitability.

“We do need to attract jobs to Haddington and East Lothian in general but I feel there are jobs created by housing developments and they seldom seem to be taken into account.

“The chances of a company of a suitable size coming forward for this building may take some time – if ever.” Mr Trotter said he had been against other housing developments in the town and would continue to take each proposal on a case by case basis.

He added: “I can understand that there is a fear that once again a development will have a negative effect on High Street but I feel that we do need places for the visitors who will hopefully come to experience our county town. The trick will be to entice them to High Street, the Tyne, etc.” Also in support of the application was Councillor Norman Hampshire (Lab), chairman of the planning committee.

He referenced similar pub/restaurant, the Pine Marten, on Dunbar’s Spott Road, and the fears when it was proposed about what it would mean for the town’s High Street. Mr Hampshire said: “I think it has had the opposite effect. It’s actually made Dunbar a good destination.” The scheme is now set to see a dozen houses built next year, with 25 being built over the following years. At the same time, conditions were attached with a financial contribution of more than £250,000 to go towards education and increasing capacity at Haddington Infant School and Knox Academy.