West Lothian Council has received the report of a public local inquiry into a major new planning blueprint.

The local plan sets out the council's planning strategy for West Lothian for the next 10-15 years. It provides a framework for developments worth £1.5bn for Scotland's fastest growing area.

The council will be considering the Scottish Government reporters' recommendations over the coming weeks.

A number of changes are recommended to the plan to address some of the objections received. The inquiry reporters have, however, supported the scale of growth planned within the core development areas at Armadale, Broxburn, East Calder, West Livingston/Mossend and Winchburgh where a total of 12,000 new homes are proposed.

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They conclude that the scale of housing proposed in the local plan - a total of 25,000 new homes across West Lothian - is likely to meet the targets required in the Edinburgh and the Lothians Structure Plan.

A local residents' campaign group said it was disappointed, but not surprised, with the outcome.

June Foster, of the Hillend and Faucheldean residents group, near Winchburgh, believes prime agricultural land which has some of the highest wheat yields in Scotland will be lost.

"They are concreting it over, so let's hope future generations will forgive the planners." she said.

Copies of the report on the finalised West Lothian Local Plan can be viewed on the council website and will be available for inspection at public libraries and Council Information Service offices from Monday April 14.

It is anticipated that modifications to the West Lothian Local Plan will be published later this year.

(GK/JM)