MOVES to build more than 100 houses on land dubbed a ‘Field of Dreams’ have been taken to the Scottish Government.

Developers Barratt want to build 116 houses and 15 business units on the 11-acre site at Kingslaw, Tranent, which has been earmarked for business use.

However, their claim that the only way to bring businesses onto the site was by generating funding through the sale of new homes was rejected by East Lothian Council.

Instead, council planners insisted the land should be retained for economic development.

Councillor John McMillan, economic spokesperson, referenced the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams when arguing for the land to be retained when he told a council meeting in August: “If we build it, they will come.”

Now developers have taken their case to the Scottish Government as they appeal the council ruling against their plans.

They insist the local authority failed to acknowledge their evidence, which they say “demonstrates that the development of business uses at the site is only capable of being delivered in association with enabling residential development”.

At August’s council planning meeting, Barratt’s plans for Kingslaw, on the town’s eastern edge, were presented as the only way the numbers “add up”.

Jason Watt, from Barratt, told the committee that site drainage and geology issues meant it would cost £1.5m to get ready for development.

Once general costs were taken into account, the total development bill would be £2.25m – yet the value of the land was estimated at only £1.1m.

He said: “The numbers clearly do not add up and never will unless there is cross subsidising with a mixed use development.”

Ward councillor Kenny McLeod backed the Barratt proposal, highlighting the lack of council housing available for rent in Tranent – the proposed Barratt development included 25 per cent affordable housing.

He said: “We need to keep the local connection and they are not building housing for rent in this area. It must be 50 years since a house was put in the area for rent.”

But fellow ward councillor Colin McGinn was concerned about the traffic that would be created by more than 100 homes on the site, adding: “We have a responsibility within Tranent to increase employment and opportunities for our young people.”

The case has now been allocated to a Scottish Government reporter for consideration.