A plan for a business innovation hub in East Lothian has taken a major step forward.

The Edinburgh Innovation Hub – a joint venture between East Lothian Council and Queen Margaret University (QMU) – has now received detailed planning consent.

The 7,200m2 hub is the first step in the development of the wider Edinburgh Innovation Park on land adjacent to the QMU campus in Musselburgh.

Work is expected to start on site later this year, with estimated completion of the building in 2025.

The project was granted planning permission in principle in March 2019, as part of a mixed use development including new homes and a primary school, business and industry use, and community facilities.

The new hub has been described as “a nationally significant facility to capture, support and grow innovation-led enterprise in East Lothian”.

Focusing on important high-growth sectors with specialist needs, including the food and drink sector, it will support innovative start-ups and small-to-medium-sized businesses, delivering a specialist service for research and business development.

It will become a new economic innovation cluster featuring serviced and fitted commercial laboratory, office and events space.

The venture is supported by £28.6 million from the UK Government, £1.4 million from the Scottish Government, and £10 million from East Lothian Council as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal (ESES City Region Deal).

Councillor Norman Hampshire, leader of East Lothian Council, said: “This is a great example of partnership working and the benefits that the ESES City Region Deal is bringing to East Lothian and the wider area.

“East Lothian has long been known for its agriculture and fish- ing industries and that has naturally led to us being a leading area for innovative food and drink businesses and product development.

“This in turn supports the local economy, in particular the hospitality and tourism industry.

“This hub, and the support it will provide to food and drink and other important industries, I’m sure will be invaluable.”

Sir Paul Grice, principal of QMU, added: “We are delighted that full planning approval has been granted for this hugely important development that will do so much to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, help bring quality jobs and investment to the local area, and support local and national economic development.

“We look forward to seeing fulfilment of this project, which is underpinned by many years of strong partnership work between the university and East Lothian Council, supported by the ESES City Region Deal.”

Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, said: “The Scottish Government is proud to support this innovation hub, which will encourage entrepreneurship in East Lothian and beyond.

“By turning cutting-edge research into businesses, we are supporting the entrepreneurs of the future.

“This will help us to achieve the vision set out in the National Innovation Strategy for Scotland, which is to become one of the most innovative small nations in the world over the next decade.”

Malcolm Offord, UK Government Minister for Scotland, added: “This new innovation hub will help nurture businesses, foster creativity and bring jobs and prosperity to East Lothian.

“There is a huge amount of potential in Scotland’s food and drink sector, and this facility will help to unlock this, and build on other strengths.”