MORE than 60 affordable new homes on part of a major development in Haddington will be completed by next autumn after work on the project got under way.

In total, 43 new council houses and a further 23 housing association homes are being built at the Letham Mains site, off the B6471 near Oaktree Junction.

The site has a number of different developers currently at various stages of construction as more than 800 new homes are planed alongside a new primary school on the land.

East Lothian Council said that the work on the affordable housing, which was recently awarded to Hart Builders with a total cost of £10.1million, was now under way.

The homes are expected to be completed in phases between spring and autumn next year, with three more affordable developments expected to start on the Letham Mains site in future years.

Councillor Jim Goodfellow, the council’s cabinet spokesperson for housing, said: “This is great news for current and future residents of East Lothian.

“There is a clear need for new affordable housing developments and these sites at Letham Mains will help contribute to meeting our local housing strategy outcomes by increasing the supply of affordable housing and improving access across different tenures and house types.”

The new Castle Rock Edinvar will take ownership of the 23 housing association homes being built on the site.

Richard Jennings, the association’s managing director, said: “There is strong demand for mid-market rent accommodation in East Lothian and we are delighted to deliver an affordable choice of high-quality, well-managed homes for people wishing to be part of the vibrant new community at Letham Mains.”