A public exhibition on a planned housing development on Tantallon Road was well-attended last week, with nearly 60 residents turning out to see the plans.

The event, hosted by McCarthy and Stone, was on a proposed application to redevelop the former Ben Sayers Factory site, currently home to theSPACE facility, into private retirement apparements.

The lease for theSPACE expires in March and a new base for the facility is currently being sought.

Feedback from the consultation event showed overwhelming support for the housing proposals, with everyone who filled out a form at the event in favour of the idea. Steve Wiseman, the group’s managing director in Scotland, said: “I would like to thank the local community for coming to meet us.

“Their comments are invaluable in helping to shape our final plans and ensure they benefit local people.

“As a result of feedback we have already revised some aspects of our plans, such as increasing car parking.

“We believe our proposal makes the best use of the site, building new homes specifically for older people and new business space which in turn could create more jobs in the local area.” If the application is successful, the site on Tantallon Road would be transformed into 42 apartments with shared living spaces.

Further to that, there would be 28 car parking spaces, which is up from the initial proposal of 25, to accommodate the parking needs of visitors.

The development is expected to support about 60 jobs in the town, with the work expected to cost in the region of £5.4 million.

Feedback will now be considered before plans are lodged with East Lothian Council in the coming months.

Information about the proposal is available at www.mccarthyandstone-consultation.co.uk/northberwick, on freephone 0800 088 4322 or by emailing mccarthyandstone@pagodapr.com