AMBITIOUS plans to transform a semi-derelict site in the centre of Haddington have won favour with the town’s community council.

Proposals were revealed earlier this year to breathe new life into the buildings at the junction of Hardgate and Victoria Terrace.

A new group – Marketgate Community Haddington Ltd – outlined its vision to the town’s community council last month.

The owner of the site has valued the land at £1 million and has backed the proposals for the area.

Fiona Lambert, of MADE in East Lothian, said: “This project is for the community, by the community, with something included for everyone.

“The idea is to have something on offer for all age groups, including a community garden, a performance space, co-working zone, an expanded reuse hub, and a community café, which would offer training and work experience opportunities.

“In fact, we are very keen to involve young people in all our plans right from the beginning.

“This end of Haddington is significantly quieter since the new shopping centre opened at the opposite end of town and we have seen a dramatic drop in footfall, but we are confident that the Marketgate development would give this whole area a much-needed boost.”

MADE in East Lothian has occupied a section of the site since 2016.

The group acts as an arts and craft space, a reuse hub, a retail gallery featuring work by local makers, and a wide variety of craft workshops and community drop-in sessions.

Theresa Laing, chairwoman of the community council, said: “We are delighted that it is going to spruce up the area and they have consulted with the community.

“It just looks like a great project and we are just hoping the chap selling it is happy as well.

“I think it will certainly enhance that area because there is not much at the site. It will bring people right across the town. It is good that it is going to have community spaces in it and maybe training opportunities for young people.”

Many of the buildings on the site are in a state of disrepair and, under the plans, many of the existing buildings require demolition.

The current buildings on the site were erected in 1923, with the workshop area constructed from a First World War aircraft hangar relocated from East Fortune Airfield.

Much of the site was used as a petrol station and garage until 2008.

More recently, plans for a car wash on the site were turned down by East Lothian Council.