FRESH plans for an ambitious expansion of Dunbar Golf Club have been lodged with East Lothian Council.

Between 70 and 80 new houses could be built on two sites next to the 18-hole golf course, as well as a new clubhouse, a new nine-hole course and practice facilities.

The proposals come 10 years after the club applied to East Lothian Council to develop a new clubhouse, nine-hole golf course, golf academy and driving range, short practice facilities, greenkeepers’ shed, housing and hotel to complement the existing course.

In October 2015, the scheme was given the green light.

Now, a fresh application has been made by Dunbar Golf Club and CALA Management Ltd.

The majority of the homes would be built around the existing Deer Park Cemetery, to the south-east of much of the existing golf course.

A smaller number of houses is earmarked for land at the current clubhouse, off Golf House Road.

Plans suggest that the nine-hole course would be created opposite the housing development being built off Bowmont Terrace.

New documents lodged with the council’s planning department, referencing the previously approved plans, state: “This permission also included a Section 75 legal agreement which seeks to control the timing of the delivery of new homes alongside the delivery of the new clubhouse and associated facilities, commits the golf club to contributions towards education provision, as well as a commitment to a collaborative approach in promoting the site for a future hotel development [and as per the masterplan].

“As Dunbar Golf Club undertook further work, including marketing the site under the terms of the planning permission, it became clear that the layout proposed in the masterplan accompanying the planning permission in outline did not reflect the best option for future development, mostly with regards to the proposed mix of housing and the balance of the quantum of development between the clubhouse site and Deer Park. Clear feedback highlighted that more units should be proposed at Deer Park, with a limited development of larger homes on the existing clubhouse site.

“In detailed discussions with East Lothian Council, it was agreed that fresh planning permission would be required. Given the size of the site and scale of development, it is considered a major development and therefore triggered the requirement for this formal pre-application consultation process.”

A public exhibition is to take place on April 26 at the Dunmuir Hotel, 3-8pm, to reveal the new plans to the public for the first time.

The number of houses planned are estimated to be between 70 and 80, compared to 67 in the previous application. The golf club will also maintain a site for potential future hotel development. Councillors Norman Hampshire, Paul McLennan and Sue Kempson, who represent the town, will also be made aware of the plans, as will the town’s community council.

Dunbar Golf Club’s East Links has played host to many national and several international championships, as well as being a final qualifying course for the Open when it is played at Muirfield. The club was founded in 1856.