COUNCILLORS have stressed that the local authority must get it right to halt unwanted developments across the county.

More than 10,000 homes will be built across the county in the next decade, with a number of sites also being identified for development to create employment space.

East Lothian Council is in the process of creating a new Local Development Plan (LDP). As part of that, the local authority published a Main Issues Report (MIR) at the end of October.

The 1,000-page document looked at a variety of sites across the county for not only housing use but for employment. A 12-week public consultation ended on February 8.

Councillor Stuart Currie, leader of the opposition SNP Group, acknowledged at last week’s council meeting there were “massive issues” ahead and “difficult decisions” had to be made.

He said: “There will be some parts of the community who see it as being right and others who see it as being wrong but we have got to get it as right as we can.

“It’s not just about houses but employment land so not everybody has to go hurtling up the A1 to Edinburgh and there are employment opportunities in East Lothian.” Similarly, there would be huge issues when it came to school catchment areas and clusters and it was imperative that East Lothian Council got it right, he said.

The Scottish Government has tasked the local authority with ensuring 10,050 homes are built by 2024.

The MIR outlines potential sites, as well as looking at land for employment and the necessary infrastructure to support it.

More than 1,000 people responded during the consultation period, with half of those responses published online.

Councillor Michael Veitch (Con), deputy leader of the council, thanked everyone for taking the time to respond.

He added: “The onus is now on us to ensure that we act upon those responses, mindful that they won’t all agree, but nonetheless seeking to ensure that our final LDP is a genuine reflection of the views expressed by local people during this process.

“In terms of the overall vision for the LDP, I’m not surprised to see that supporting town centres and retaining prime agricultural land have been highlighted.

“East Lothian is perhaps best known (and admired) for its attractive settlements and its productive and scenic countryside, and it is important that this be at the heart of the LDP.” He agreed there was a need to look at connectivity and infrastructure within towns.

Mr Veitch added: “The issue of improved connectivity between developments to the north and south of the East Coast Main Line in Dunbar is mentioned and is often raised locally. It would be great if a concrete proposal for addressing this could be developed.” He summed up by saying: “If the LDP is to retain its credibility for the duration of its tenure it must be reflective of the views expressed by the citizens of East Lothian.

“It is their plan – not just the council’s.

“From what I have read of the feedback provided, our officers are pursuing what is broadly the correct strategy, and I look forward to the conclusion of this complicated but worthwhile process in due course.” The MIR outlined ways in which the council could meet its statutory requirements to find space for 10,050 new homes by 2024, as well as land for employment and the necessary infrastructure to support it.

Overall, there was support for the intention of identifying sites for homes, employment and the necessary infrastructure.

That was tempered with concerns about the scale of growth versus environmental and infrastructure impacts, the effects on character of settlements and coalescence and the need to support town centres.

Councillor Norman Hampshire (Lab), council spokesman for housing and the environment, said: “We are very grateful to all those who took the time to read and respond to the Main Issues Report consultation.

“The responses make interesting reading and give great insight into our communities’ priorities for planning and development.

“It’s clear that people are keen to protect the character of our county and its facilities make sure that we protect our heritage, tourism and our environmental assets.” The Scottish Government and key agencies supported the council’s ‘preferred’ compact strategy, which would see development concentrated in the west of the county to capitalise on existing infrastructure and employment opportunities.

This view was shared by many community groups and area partnerships in east East Lothian, as well as individual respondents, whereas groups in the west tended to prefer the ‘alternative’ dispersed strategy.

Developers felt that a mixture of both approaches would be necessary to meet the housing targets set by Government.

Mr Hampshire added: “The task now is to consider these original proposals alongside the responses to create a Local Development Plan that is appropriate for our area and meets our statutory national objectives.” The responses will now be considered fully as the council begins preparation of its proposed LDP, due for publication in late 2015.

The proposed LDP, which will be subject to examination by the Scottish Government, will set out the council’s settled view for future development in East Lothian.

When adopted as the LDP, it will be the basis for assessing planning applications.