A site in the centre of Tranent, which was previously home to the Fa'side Lodge care home, has been transformed with the completion of 28 much-needed new homes.

The development, built by The JR Group, includes council houses and properties for assisted living.

The land, near the top of Church Street, became available for development following the demolition of Fa'side Lodge in 2016.

The new properties for council rent include ten one-bedroom flats, four two-bedroom flats, and a wheelchair accessible bungalow, addressing a huge demand for one-bedroom properties on the housing waiting list.

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In addition, 13 properties—a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, cottage flats, and bungalows—will be leased to the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP) for people with support needs.

The Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme supported the 28-unit development with grant funding of £2.621 million (£2.621m).

The homes have been built to very high standards and include future-proofing features such as:

• Zero direct emissions heating.

• Digital enablement.

• Automatic fire suppression systems.

• Electric vehicle infrastructure and points.

Councillor Andy Forrest, East Lothian Council Spokesperson for Housing and Property Maintenance, expressed his delight at delivering the high-quality homes, highlighting the difference the accessible properties will make to tenants' lives.

David Hood, Head of Operations for ELHSCP, noted that the dedicated, purpose-built residences will assist people to live independently with the benefit of being able to provide support onsite when required.

The site has a long history, known as Pigeon Square in the 19th century and later hosting the beloved Tranent Public School before the care home was built in the 1970s.