Make mine a brand new town

A NEW town is set to be built after councillors approved a blueprint for 1,600 homes on a former open-cast mine.

East Lothian Council will now seek the opinions of local residents on how the development, to be known as Blindwells, should proceed as part of a six-week public consultation.

If the plans get the go-ahead, the council believes there is scope for the community to swell to more than 3,000 houses in the future.

Principal planner Andrew Stewart said: "Because the scope for existing East Lothian towns to contribute significantly to growth beyond 2015 is unlikely, the new settlement could yield a further 2,500-3,000 houses, post-2015."

East Lothian Council's cabinet met on Tuesday to approve the draft development framework for the initial 1,600 houses.

Other features proposed include primary care GP services, new schools and a town centre comprising facilities such as a library, community centre and supermarkets. Leisure facilities proposed include three tennis courts, while a rail halt and allotments may also be built.

Councillor Barry Turner, the local authority's planning convener, welcomed the fact that a large proportion of the properties would be affordable housing.

A council spokeswoman said: "The Blindwells development framework outlines the vision of a community that would combine housing, education and community facilities, retail and employment opportunities.

"It will be used to set out the infrastructure requirements and design principles for a new settlement that will enhance East Lothian."

Copies of the draft framework will be available in libraries, at John Muir House in Haddington and will be available to download from the council's website.

If approved, the new town is likely to fall within the boundaries of the current Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council area.

Chairman Raymond Strang said the community council has yet to fully review the implications of the development framework.

However, he did outline a number of concerns expressed during previous community council meetings.

He said: "We have had discussions in the past about the number of shops closing in Tranent town centre.

"There is a concern that this settlement will continue to pull the businesses elsewhere. However, all of these matters will be discussed once we've had a chance to properly review the document.

"We are also hoping to arrange a meeting with neighbouring community councils to coordinate a group response to these plans."

The development is being driven by Scottish Resources Group Ltd, the parent company of Scottish Coal, which owns the land.

A Scottish Coal spokesman said: "This work is part of the preliminary work that we are undertaking, which will eventually allow us to submit an outline planning application for the site.

"We are mindful of the economic situation, but we do not believe that this will prevent us from delivering an imaginative and vibrant new community."