Plans have been approved to build over 1,000 new homes in East Lothian.

The council has granted planning permission for Hargreaves to deliver 1,600 new houses at Blindwells, a former open cast coal mine which was shut in 2000.

The scheme forms the first phase of a wider proposal to build over 3,200 homes at the 392-acre site near Tranent. Overall, the project will see 'affordable' housing and mixed-use development delivered over the next 12 – 15 years.

The Blindwells site will require some initial consolidation work and the development of infrastructure such as roads and connections to utility networks. This work, costing £5m, is expected to begin shortly. It is also anticipated Hargreaves will undertake the phased sale of residential development plots to national and local house builders over a number of years.

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Iain Slater, Development and Estates Director for Hargreaves, said: 'We have worked in partnership with East Lothian Council to deliver its original vision for a new community and we are confident that Blindwells will provide a high quality lifestyle set around some of Scotland's finest countryside.

"We're delighted that the first phase has been granted planning approval in principle and we look forward to working with the Council to ensure delivery of the targeted development investment and associated benefits for East Lothian."

Gordon Banham, Chief Executive Officer of Hargreaves, said: "We are delighted to have secured this planning permission. It marks another important milestone in achieving the target we set ourselves to deliver £35-50m of new value from our overall property portfolio over the next five years.

"Blindwells is an important part of that portfolio and is an excellent and exciting site. The grant of planning permission now allows us to develop and commercialise the site and we look forward to providing further updates and information as our plans progress."

Image: © EMA Architecture + Design Ltd.

(LM/CD)