A NEW housing scheme could see 28 council homes in Tranent town centre.

Plans for 24 flats and four houses on the site of the former Fa’side Lodge Care Home, off Elder Court, have been submitted by East Lothian Council.

The council was unable to reveal the potential cost of the project, which follows on from a public consultation last August.

Councillor Colin McGinn, who represents the town, told the Courier: “The key thing for me is that the site has lain empty for such a long time and we have always wanted to see it used in the most productive way possible, which has been difficult.

“Where it sits is a problem and I’m just thankful we have got an application now that will come forward and hopefully produce some of the social housing that we need.”

The site previously housed one of the earliest gas works in East Lothian, dating from the 1840s.

More than 60 years of this use has resulted in “well-documented” residual contamination which requires “thorough remediation” prior to any development of the site.

Seven buildings are planned for the plot of land, with “specific house layouts to meet both the site constraints and the intended end users”.

Four buildings will be created over two storeys, containing 15 one-bedroom properties and nine two-bedroom homes.

The one-storey buildings feature one three-bedroom property, one two-bedroom property and two one-bedroom homes.

A number of homes are for wheelchair and supported tenants, with dedicated staff premises.

David Forrest, chairman of the town’s community council, said: “The ground has sat empty for long enough.

“It is time something was done.

“We are just happy something could be built on it. The community is glad to see it developed. It could have been turned into anything and we are happy there is social housing.”

A decision could be taken on the scheme by the beginning of next month.

A council spokeswoman added: “This proposal contains a mix of affordable mainstream and specialist housing within seven constructed blocks.

“Twenty-one mainstream properties are proposed, which includes one wheelchair bungalow and four amenity properties for older people.

“The remaining seven are specialist properties where support would be provided as intensively as required.

“Five of these would be suitable for wheelchair users.”