WORK on major plans which would dramatically change the view of North Berwick’s coastline could begin by the end of next year.

Goldcrest Communities Ltd has highlighted land at Castleton Farm, to the east of the town, for a substantial development.

The proposals, which are in the early stages, show a 60-bed care home, with up to 160 “private/public accommodation with care units for older persons” and a community health centre.

The site, east of Tantallon Caravan Park, north of the A198 and south of Glen Golf Club, would also feature a “community hub” which could include professional services, a cafe or restaurant, and leisure facilities.

Space would also be left for outdoor recreational uses, such as a bowling green.

Guy Bailey, one of the directors with the applicant, told the Courier the plans had been in the pipeline for two years.

He added: “We have looked round North Berwick, rest assured, and we have been offered various sites, most of which were not big enough.

“That is ultimately why we have gone for this site and we are very well aware of the visual impact potential and sensitivity of the site but then the design will be in accordance with the sensitivity.”

He stressed that the care units would not be marketed as housing on the general market and would instead be restricted to people over a certain age.

He added: “We don’t want, in any way, to create any negative impact on the local community by increasing the burden.

“There will be no children, no schooling requirement.”

Copies of the early proposals have been sent to North Berwick Community Council and the ward’s three councillors – Jeremy Findlay, Jim Goodfellow and Jane Henderson.

A public exhibition takes place in the town’s community centre on November 8, 2-8pm.

Feedback from that will then help shape any planning application and Mr Bailey said: “We are thinking the planning application will be ready to go in by the early part of 2019.

“At this point we have done an extraordinary amount of work.”

That includes meetings with East Lothian Council to help mould the early plans.

Mr Findlay is the only one of the ward’s three councillors who is on the planning committee, which would likely decide on whether to grant planning permission on the scheme, and had previously had discussions with the potential developer.

He said: “I am open-minded and waiting to see what the actual application entails.

“But I do have some concerns over the use of prime agricultural land but it depends on the application.”

Councillor Henderson, ward colleague and Conservative Party leader on East Lothian Council, echoed those views and wanted to find out more before commenting further.

Mr Goodfellow said: “The proposals are at a very early stage. They are, of course, outside the town envelope and therefore will require careful consideration.”

North Berwick Community Council briefly discussed the issue at their meeting this month but are waiting for further details before commenting.

Jim Sear, captain at Glen Golf Club, was keen to find out more about the plans and said the club was “quite worried” about the proposals.

Mr Sear said: “Our early feeling is it is going to impact on us quite greatly.”

The club’s sixth hole, which is a par five, runs to the north of the proposed development.

The captain added: “One of the problems we do have is our sixth hole, we hit a ball over the corner of the field where they are going to be building.

“The sixth fairway runs parallel with the field.

“On quite a few occasions, we have balls that go into the field.”