A dilapidated two-storey block of flats in Musselburgh is to be demolished and replaced with a new three-storey block under a £1.3m contract approved at a meeting of East Lothian Council’s Cabinet.

CCG (Scotland) Ltd was awarded the contract to carry out the works at 5-9 Links Avenue in Musselburgh following a competitive tendering process.

The existing flats were built in the 1930s. The two-storey building is in need of extensive structural upgrading due to local settlement, and is out of keeping with newer three-storey flats that have since been built alongside.

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A Cost Options Appraisal revealed that it would be more economic to demolish the existing property and rebuild it rather than to refurbish. This has also given the council's architects the opportunity to revise the size, style and number of flats to develop homes that better meet the high demand for housing in the area.

Instead of four one-bedroom flats and eight bedsits, the new three-storey block will have a range of one- and two-bedroom flats, including two ground-floor properties that are wheelchair accessible.

The flats have previously been used for short-term temporary accommodation. Work is expected to begin in early 2010 and will take around 40 weeks to complete.

Cabinet member for Housing Councillor Stuart Currie said: "These flats in Links Avenue have been affected by settlement, which was not apparent when they were first build in the 1930s. Replacing the existing homes will allow us to carry out all of the necessary work to make sure that the new flats are built to last, complement surrounding buildings and provide a better mix of properties for council tenants."

(GK/BMcC)