NEW housing is at last being built at Tranent’s north-east edge – years after planning permission was first sought.

More than seven years ago, East Lothian Council received a planning application from Omnivale Ltd for the building of 29 homes at Tranent Mains Farm.

However, only now is Persimmon Homes East Scotland, which owns the land, beginning work on the site.

In July last year, East Lothian Council finally granted outline planning permission after delays to the project due to the poor economic climate and an issue with developer contributions.

Persimmon Homes East Scotland expected to be on site for the £5 million development last year but the company was required to submit an ‘Approval Matters Specified Condition’ to the council, which has now been accepted, paving the way for the development to start on the 0.767-hectare site.

A spokesperson at Persimmon Homes East Scotland confirmed: “We are delighted to receive planning permission from East Lothian Council for 29 two, three and four-bedroom terraced, semi-detached and detached houses in Tranent.

“Final approval was confirmed following the submission of our ‘Approval of Matters Specified in Conditions’, which took into account layout recommendations made by the East Lothian planning team, and we look forward to starting on-site.” The site for the development was previously occupied by Tranent Mains Farm, which was established by the mid-19th century, having been shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1854.

The farm consisted of a number of buildings of differing ages and functions, including barns, stables and other outbuildings, all of which have been demolished to ground level.