ALDI Stores has emerged as the frontrunner to occupy the site of the former Tranmare Hotel on Haddington Road and provide the area with 30 new jobs.

The supermarket chain, voted Which? Best Supermarket 2013, already has two stores in the county, in Haddington and Musselburgh, and is the preferred bidder to regenerate the site, which has lain empty for nearly a year after the hotel was demolished last March.

The Tranmare burned down in March 2011 and owners Punch Taverns obtained planning consent for a food store from East Lothian Council last September.

Graham Nicolson, Aldi property director, told the Courier: “Aldi is the preferred bidder for the site and we are currently concluding negotiations with Punch Taverns to finalise the deal.

“We will then be bringing forward our detailed proposals for the site, which would be similar in style to our most recently opened store in Leven.

“We are very excited about bringing the Aldi brand to Tranent and believe the store will trade extremely well.

“This would be our third East Lothian store to complement Musselburgh and Haddington and, coupled with the investment and regeneration of the site, would bring the prospect of 30 new jobs for local people.” The company has declined to put a timescale on the project.

Aldi normally acquires a site subject to planning before going through the planning process. However, this time Punch received the planning consent.

Once Aldi has the legal title to the site, it will then ensure that what it is proposing to build complies with the consent already granted.

The future of the Tranmare site has been a long-running saga in Tranent and news that further progress has been made has been welcomed.

Colin Martin, Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council chairman, said: “It’s good news. We were hoping that there would be employment [created by the new store].

“[The site] is a real mess, it looks ragged. The sooner the builders can get on site so work can start the better.

“It doesn’t take long these days to put up the structure.” Councillor Kenny McLeod, Fa’side ward, said: “Aldi have had a lot praise. I’m delighted something has been done.

“If it is something that is going to enhance the town with jobs I’ll support it as much as I can.”