Plans for new £12 million care home could create 70 new jobs

Fresh plans for a three-storey, 60-bed care home, along with 10 extra-care units for over-55s, have been lodged with East Lothian Council.

The development, which would be based to the east of Drummore Auction House, near the Wallyford Toll roundabout, would provide special respite, dementia, palliative, convalescence and nursing care.

More than 30 documents have been submitted to the local authority as part of Charles Williams’ application.

A statement included with the application notes an expected increase in the elderly population in the area and that “currently demand for care home places is outstripping supply”.

It reads: “The development would represent an investment of £12 million construction.

“In addition to providing much-needed bed spaces and associated facilities for those in need, the care home complex proposed on the application site will provide c.70 new employment opportunities with associated spin-off benefits to the wider economy and local businesses.”

The auction house is used for storage and distribution of “objects d’art, sculptures, paintings, and associated luxury goods”.

The document continues: “Much of this business is now migrating online and there is much-reduced requirement for the physical movement of goods and the holding of auction meetings.

“The site and associated building are underused and therefore can be utilised more intensively and efficiently through an alternative use which would not impact on the amenity of any existing residents.”

The apartments would consist of a mix of one-bedroom (four), two-bedroom (four) and three-bedroom (two) properties.

Meanwhile, between the apartments and the care home, there would be nearly 40 parking spaces.

According to the plans, the care home would be sub-divided into separate areas, each comprising 10 en-suite bedrooms, a lounge and lounge/dining room.

Communal facilities, including private dining, entertainment facilities, games rooms, hair salon and cinema, would also be included.

The developers state: “Drummore is a priority for redevelopment and re-generation, and the proposed development would also deliver a range of social, environmental, and economic benefits.

“Accordingly, the landowner wishes to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to deliver a new mixed-use location for the area.

“As a local development, it represents a unique opportunity to develop an important brownfield site in a sustainable manner in conjunction with maximising the opportunity to deliver a high-quality place that successfully responds to its context.”

New plans for a 60-bed care home near Wallyford Toll roundabout have been lodged with East Lothian Council (Image: Supplied)

A first set of plans were withdrawn in September.

At that time, a spokesperson for Studiompa, the firm representing landowner and applicant Mr Williams, said that a “small number” of technical matters had arisen during the planning process.

They stressed that it was "very much a positive step forward rather than a step back".

The spokesperson said: "It gives us the opportunity to undertake more meaningful consultation with relevant council departments and external consultees, while also making a number of minor design refinements to further strengthen the proposals before a new application is re-submitted.

"Furthermore, we would be interested in ideas and propositions from the local community, including the future use of the auction house itself, which is largely surplus to business requirements."