THE development of a long-delayed new town between Tranent and Longniddry looks to finally be back on track – with hopes that the first homes could be completed within the next two years.

The building of 1,600 homes at the former open-cast mining site at Blindwells could finally move forward, more than three years after a development framework was approved by East Lothian Council, with landowners Hargreaves Services keen to see work start on the site within the next 24 months.

Iain Slater, head of property for Hargreaves, told the Courier that a lot of hurdles had been overcome to reach this point, with consultation events on the development to take place early in the New Year. However, he was certain that the future was “very positive”.

He said: “It is fair to say that the Blindwells development has been long anticipated, with many eager to find out more about its future.

“Hargreaves is fully committed to these proposals reaching a positive outcome and we hope local residents will find the time to come to our consultation events to hear updates on the project and to learn a little more about us.” East Lothian Council has to build 6,250 homes between 2009 and 2019, with a further 3,800 by 2024.

“A considerable” number of the homes on the Blindwells site will fall into the affordable housing sector.

County MSP Iain Gray has welcomed the prospect of Blindwells moving forward again, saying it would help the council to reject housing plans it did not consider to be appropriate.

Originally, the land at Blindwells, which was an open-cast coal mine, was identified as an important site over a decade ago and was incorporated into the East Lothian Development Plan.

It was earmarked by SRG (Scottish Resources Group) but the firm went into liquidation in the summer, with Hargreaves stepping in and now ready to develop the site.

The first phase of the development would see 1,600 homes built, but eventually about 4,500 homes could be constructed on the site.

Mr Slater said: “We are a new organisation working with the site.

“We are going to submit a new planning application in Q2 (April to June) next year.

“Then we are at the mercy of the planning process.

“The target is nine months and we want to make sure the correct information is in place.

“At the end, we want the planning permission to be of benefit to everybody.” He described Hargreaves as a “dynamic and fast moving organisation” and repeated that the Durham-based company was “very serious about the importance of this project”.

He said: “We want people to be like ourselves, to feel re-energised by this project and realise this will have a very, very positive effect locally and hopefully be a big, huge boost for the area.” Hargreaves is working on a scheme that will not just include houses.

Instead, shops, a school (ranging from P1 to S6), a park-and-ride system and parks will all be part of the facilities developed, if the scheme gets the green light next year.

There has also been a redesign of the site layout to allow “a better flow” for traffic, including bus links.

“There has been a lot of work done on the masterplan, how everything works together on the site with shaping residential and employment land,” said Mr Slater, who explained what made Blindwells a good site for housing: “Location, location, location.” One of the main hurdles for any proposed large-scale housing development has been the economy and the current state of the construction industry.

However, Hargreaves was hopeful that the development would start on its timescale.

Mr Slater told the Courier there was “a lot of interest” in the site and the company was looking to move things forward.

He said: “There is no reason why we should not have planning [permission] by the end of 2014.” It is also hoped that the scheme will create a number of jobs, both in the short and long-term.

“It will have a very long-lasting positive impact on the area,” Mr Slater added.

County MSP Iain Gray welcomed the progress.

He said: “I look forward to seeing the detailed plans at the public consultation scheduled for January. “I have been outspoken about recent local planning decisions being overturned by Scottish Ministers, allowing housing in sites which are less than ideal.

“One of the excuses the reporters use to trample on local democracy is that some large sites agreed for housing have not started building. “That argument would largely disappear if building were to start at Blindwells, so this development could provide some much-needed protection for communities across the county.

“There is no doubt we do need more housing as our population grows, but we cannot allow the character of our towns and villages to be destroyed.

“The idea of building a new settlement, with all the required amenities, such as schools, rather than piecemeal expansion of every town and village, is a good one in my view.” The developers will host five consecutive open days, January 7-11, in the surrounding communities.

That will see the developers visit Port Seton, Longniddry, Prestonpans, Haddington and finally Tranent, with attendees able to review updates on the plans and have their say on them.

Mr Slater urged: “Please, come out and have a chat and let’s find out what the community wants.” Public consultation was previously carried out and Hargreaves has the results of those events.

However, the company was keen to go back to the public and find out more.

Mr Slater said: “We could [just use the previous results] but as a responsible developer we want to be sure we are providing the best.

“We know the importance of this development to this area.

“The conversation with stakeholders and how important this development is, we would hope with these events coming up, it provides opportunities for people to come and tell us their thoughts on the project.” An East Lothian Council spokeswoman said: “Scottish Ministers’ approval of the Strategic Development Plan and the implications of their requirement to bring forward Supplementary Guidance on Housing Land presents a challenge to all six SESplan authorities.

“The council believes that it can identify land capable of meeting the East Lothian requirement, but it will be for its East Lothian Local Development Plan, currently in preparation, to confirm how this can be done.

“The provision of the necessary infrastructure, particularly school capacity and transport, will be important considerations.”