DEVELOPERS hoping to build on the outskirts of Musselburgh have said the land has the capacity for as many as 1,000 new houses.

Mixed-use plans for the Craighall site, surrounding Queen Margaret University, on the town’s south-western edge, were given a second public exhibition in the Honest Toun last week to gauge residents’ views.

The 150-hectare plot could include a business park and local community facilities.

It would also likely need a new primary school and medical centre.

Representatives from the Persimmon Homes-led project gave a presentation to Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council, where they revealed some of the concerns raised by the public, as well as positive responses.

Among the biggest issues were worries about the effect of so many new residents on the town’s traffic flow, and whether there would be enough affordable housing in the development.

While on the positive side, people believed it could bring employment to the area and were generally supportive of its location.

Persimmon Homes unveiled its plans under a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) submitted to East Lothian Council for the site at Craighall – which incorporates the area around QMU, stretching south towards Old Craighall Road, late last year.

They held the first public exhibition of their vision for the land in December, with the second one last week at The Brunton.

Feedback from residents and the community council will be considered before any formal planning application is submitted to East Lothian Council.

Planning consultant Robin Holder told the community council the land, if fully developed, had the capacity for 1,000 houses.

He added: “We are not proposing 1,000 houses, the number remains to be seen. It is a big area.” Under the proposals, two large areas of land to the south of QMU would be developed into housing.

A third section of land at the north of the university has been earmarked for businesses.

Plans to connect all the areas using cycle and pedestrian paths have been drawn up, with an emphasis on improving cycle paths from the area, both into Edinburgh and Musselburgh itself, as well as further into the countryside.

Mr Holder said talks were ongoing with QMU about the plans and the university was keen to see the business park developed.

However, such a large-scale development would involve making provision for an additional primary school, health centre, and possibly even a new secondary school.

Mr Holder told the community council that decisions about future education needs would have to be made by the local authority.

He added: “Musselburgh Grammar School is getting pretty close to capacity; the council is going to have to look at how to proceed with both secondary and primary school education.” And he added: “I would really like sheltered housing included in the plans. The council will set out the local requirements.

“I get a sense not enough emphasis is put on sheltered housing, but there is an ageing population in Musselburgh.” Irene Tait, community council chairwoman said the group’s concerns were the percentage of affordable housing and what effect the development would have on traffic in the town.