NEARLY 200 new homes could be built in a field to the south of Tranent.

The ambitious proposals, for the western side of Windygoul South, also include more than a dozen business units, a retail unit and a restaurant/bar.

Mactaggart and Mickel Homes’ plans, which have been lodged with East Lothian Council, would see work carried out over four-and-a-half years, with the southern edge of the town transformed.

In June, the council gave the green light to 561 houses, which would stretch from the B6371 (Ormiston Road) to south of Gavin’s Lee.

Space was also left in that application, which was put forward by the Walker Group, for an extension to Windygoul Primary School – which is currently home to more than 600 pupils, with 80 youngsters at nursery – as well as a sports pitch.

A road stretching from east to west will connect the two developments as well as Ormiston Road to the east and Elphinstone Road to the west.

Developers agreed to a financial contribution of nearly £3.5 million to the primary school, with a further £2.6 million being given to East Lothian Council for the provision of additional capacity at Ross High School.

The latest plans are for 171 houses, with a further 24 one-bedroom flats.

Fourteen business units would also be created on the site, as well as the bar/restaurant and retail unit, which could be a shop.

If approved, the plans would complete the wider site.

David Forrest, chairman of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council, said that the group planned to discuss the proposals at their next meeting, which takes place later this month.

According to the plans, a total of 49 affordable homes – made up of the 24 one-bedroom flats, eight two-bedroom houses, 15 three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom homes – would be created.

The remaining private houses on the site, which would be accessed via Elphinstone Road, would be made up of 30 two-bedroom homes, 72 three-bedroom homes and 44 four-bedroom homes.

The pub/restaurant, retail unit and business units would be created off Elphinstone Road in the south-west corner of the site.

The fate of the proposals will likely be decided by East Lothian Council’s planning committee, which includes ward members Kenny McLeod and Colin McGinn.

Both are limited on what they can say regarding the proposals so as not to rule themselves out of any future debate.

Mr McGinn said: “What is really clear is there is a strength of opinion out there about the amount of houses getting developed at that end of Tranent and we have a Local Development Plan (LDP) in place to deal with that.

“If members of the public want to voice their concerns or support the plans, they know the route to go down.

“There are going be big changes and we have the LDP that has put a lot of work into identifying those challenges over many years.

“One thing really important for me is we really need to look at a bypass for Tranent.

“I know it has been spoken about for a while but it is on my agenda and it was discussed at council previously.

“I was really clear that it was something we need to take forward as members.”

Mr McLeod echoed his ward colleague’s desire to see a bypass created to take pressure off Elphinstone Road.