A CONSULTATION over plans to turn the site of a former care home into council housing has been launched online.

East Lothian Council has revealed proposals for the site of the former Fa’side Lodge, Tranent, which would see 28 cottage flats and bungalows built on the town’s Church Street.

However, with Covid-19 restrictions making it difficult to host the normal public consultations which would see people go to a local centre or hall to view plans and give feedback, the council has launched it online, urging residents to get involved.

The plans are described as being at the design stage and would see a mixture of mainstream and specialised housing with wheelchair access on the site with a mix of two and three-bedroom bungalows and one and two-bedroom cottage flats.

Vehicle access to the new housing would be from neighbouring Elder Court and the design would follow the council’s climate change strategy.

Following the consultation, a planning application is expected to be lodged with the council and, if approved, construction could be completed by 2023.

A council spokesperson said that the online consultation, which launched last Monday, would be open for comments and feedback until this Sunday.

They said: “The council’s development team would normally hold a local public consultation event to give the community an opportunity to discuss further, provide comments and raise any concerns. Due to the current situation, we are unable to hold any face-to-face events; however, people can review the proposals and provide any feedback and concerns prior to the proposal being submitted to our planning department via the consultation hub.”

Fa’side Lodge operated as a nursing home until October, when it was replaced by the new Crookston Care Home in Tranent. The former building was demolished after the removal of asbestos.

To get involved in the consultation, go to https://eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/policy-partnerships/development-proposal-for-faside-lodge-tranent