AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after trees were felled during construction of a new care home and nursery.

A 60-bed care home and a children’s nursery off Haddington’s Gateside Road were given the go ahead in the summer of 2021.

Construction work on the home, which is to be run by the Mansfield Care Group, is well under way on the site.

Now those behind the three-storey building have been contacted by East Lothian Council about the incident.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “We can confirm that a number of trees on site have been felled in breach of planning conditions.

“We have been liaising with the developer, who has been instructed to appoint an arborist to document all unauthorised tree works.

“A report will be submitted to us for review in conjunction with our landscape team.

“The developer must also submit proposals for replacement planning to be carried out next season (September).”

A spokesperson for Mansfield Care Group, which has care homes in Troon, Kilmarnock, Edinburgh, Loanhead, Galashiels, Melrose and Jedburgh, said they were hopeful the new facility would open in “late summer”.

They said: “As well as retaining the wonderful care staff at Hilton Lodge Care Home on Court Street, we hope to create a further 40-50 new jobs in the home, totalling around 80 employees.

“As relates to the breach of planning conditions in respect to the felling of a very small number of trees, which was regarding the accessibility of the new home, we are working closely with East Lothian Council.

“Our current landscaping plan includes the planting of over 50 new trees across the site including the boundary, sensory garden and extensive grounds.”