PLANS for a ‘care village’ for older people at Inveresk have been scrapped.

Richmond Villages confirmed this week the project, earmarked for vacant land at Kirk Park to the rear of Inveresk Church, was no longer progressing.

A planning application was expected to be submitted to East Lothian Council during the first half of this year following a public consultation event in the Ravelston House Hotel.

Inveresk Village Society and Musselburgh Conservation Society had expressed their intention not to oppose the development.

Richmond Villages, part of Bupa and a founder member of the Associated Retirement Community Operators, was proposing 168 one and two-bedroom care suites/apartments, 30 frail elderly nursing care beds and 30 dementia care beds together with communal facilities.

A care home would provide long-stay care. A restaurant, cafe, library, crafts room and a wellness spa with a swimming pool, exercise studio, treatment rooms and hair and beauty suite were also planned.

But this week Martin Young, Richmond Villages’ head of development, said: “We’re looking at a number of options in the area as initial plans at Inveresk are no longer progressing. We regularly look for new locations that might be suitable to meet the growing needs of an ageing population.”

The company, which doesn’t own the site at Inveresk, concluded as plans progressed that the Inveresk site wasn’t suitable for the project.

Planning consent for a similar scheme was granted to a different developer in 2010 but nothing happened.

Inveresk resident Barry Turner, who was convener of East Lothian Council’s planning committee at that time, said Richmond Villages’ decision and the way forward for the site would be on the agendas of Inveresk Village Society and Musselburgh Conservation Society for discussion in due course.

Mr Turner, village society chairman, said: “I have noted that the site is still allocated for employment use in the new local development plan but there has never been any interest shown in this.

“I think what I can say at this stage is that any proposal for straightforward housing is likely to be strongly opposed locally.

“I would add that interest has been expressed in getting more allotments in Musselburgh, there being a huge unsatisfied demand. I wonder whether part of this site might be used for that purpose.”