PROPOSALS for a new clubhouse and hotel at Dunbar Golf Club, as well as an ‘enabling development’ of about 70 new homes next to its 18-hole holf course, will be revealed tomorrow (Friday) at a public exhibition.

The plans – which are an update of proposals submitted a decade ago and would complement the existing golf course – also include a new driving range, a nine-hole golf course, a golf academy and practice facilities.

Tony Thomas, who is representing Dunbar Golf Club and CALA Management Ltd, which are behind the plans, visited the town’s community council ahead of the public exhibition, which takes place in the town’s Dunmuir Hotel between 3pm and 8pm tomorrow.

Mr Thomas said alterations to the original plans, which were approved in 2015, meant a new planning application had to be submitted.

Now, amended plans have been drawn up, with hopes that a planning application could be with East Lothian Council, which would likely decide the fate of the proposals, by the autumn. Regardless of whether the plans are approved, golf will continue to be played on the 18-hole championship course.

Mr Thomas, from East Linton’s APT Planning and Development, said: “If we get the application in by September, something as relatively complex as this, if we get permission this time next year we will be doing well.

“The first houses would be a year later and then the clubhouse built by 2022 for the clubhouse to opens its doors in 2023.

“The last houses would be 12 months on from that.”

The majority of the houses would be built towards Deer Park Cemetery, with about 17 units being built on the site of the current clubhouse.

Under the plans, a new clubhouse would be built, with access coming from the A1087, and a nine-hole course built to the north-west, and a driving range to the east.

The changes will mean a slight alteration to the layout of the course.

The development will not include affordable housing as it is part of an enabling development. However, Mr Thomas stressed more than £500,000 would go to East Lothian Council in education contributions.

Provisional designs for the properties, which are expected to be between three and five-bedroom in size, will be included in display boards at the exhibition.

Details regarding the size of the hotel are still being worked out but historically the proposal was for a building with between 40 and 60 rooms.

Pippa Swan, chairwoman of the town’s community council, felt there were issues which could be addressed to enhance the proposals.

She said: “I just feel a sense of disappointment that the developers, who have such a wonderful opportunity, do not seem to take the opportunity to build more contemporary, innovative housing. That is my regret. It is a fantastic site but the sense of what we are going to get is a repeat of the Cala homes at Beveridge Row.”

Mrs Swan also noted a lot of people used the land at Deer Park for recreation.

She said a previous public meeting, when the community council was consulting about East Lothian Council’s local development plan, had highlighted a desire for improved connections throughout the town.

She added: “The public meeting said it was really, really important to ensure there are really good pedestrian and cycle links back into the town wherever possible.”