THE long-running saga surrounding proposed housing at Ferrygate – already rejected by East Lothian Council and the Scottish Government – has taken a fresh twist after Miller Homes put forward new proposals for planning permission in principle.

Earlier this month, an exhibition was held in the town showing new plans to build on a similar site west of North Berwick to that originally rejected.

Depending on the outcome of the consultation and further discussion with the council, a planning application is expected later this year.

Miller Homes saw its plans to build 111 homes, reduced from 140 homes, rejected by the local authority last April.

The company then submitted an appeal to Scottish Ministers, but it too was rejected following a decision by a Scottish Government Reporter in October.

That decision is subject to a legal challenge by Miller Homes in the Court of Session.

These fresh plans will run parallel with the appeal, after Miller Homes felt that the new proposals would fall in line with changes in planning policy.

Since the appeal was refused, the council has approved interim planning guidance allowing for planning permission to be granted on unallocated green field sites.

The Reporter who rejected the plans did so for two main reasons: it was felt the town was not suitable for additional housing, while it was also determined that Miller Homes was not making the best use of prime agricultural land.

The town is already set to expand significantly, with hundreds of new homes approved on its south-western edge.

Miller Homes’ initial proposal was for 140 homes before it was reduced to 111 after it was discovered during the application process that the company did not have legal right to take services over the east side of Gasworks Lane.

The new proposal has essentially been swung so the development runs on a horizontal rather than vertical axis, but on a similar scale, with about 140 houses expected, ranging from two to five bedrooms.

A spokesperson for Miller Homes said: “We are pleased to bring forward plans for much-needed new housing in East Lothian and North Berwick in particular.

“We have combined the findings of the appeal decision with more recent advice from East Lothian Council to arrive at our current proposals.

“We look forward to submitting our application to the authority for consideration in the coming months.” However, feelings in the town towards the development have not changed, with the belief North Berwick has already provided a large amount of new housing.

Sheila Sinclair, chairwoman of North Berwick Community Council, told the Courier: “The community council position is unchanged. When the planning application is put in we will look at it again.

“Houses are beng built, planning permission has been granted [for expansion elsewhere in the town]. We think we have taken enough of the new houses.”