PLANS have been lodged with East Lothian Council to transform a long-closed pub in Musselburgh into commercial units and two flats.

A planning application for the project at the former Golf Tavern, at 36-38 Millhill, has been submitted by Philip Thompson of Esk Homes.

He is proposing alterations and extension to the building, which would have two one-bedroom flats situated at first-floor level and a commercial unit at ground level.

A heritage asset, design & access statement said that the last owner of the pub building was Loretto School, which used it for storage. A scheme to convert the site to provide a teaching facility for Loretto School Golf Academy was approved in 2019, although never implemented, it added.

The original building dates back to the mid-1800s, the statement said.

It concluded: “The site requires significant investment to return it into a sound state of repair and improve its energy efficiency. Further, it has suffered as a result of lack of use and maintenance.

“The site is located in a mixed use area and is in close proximity to amenity services at Musselburgh town centre.”

It added that “a housing crisis has been declared with particular issues in the rental sector”.

“We feel that the premises would lend itself to a mixed use development, which would bring ground-floor commercial space back into use and afford two new flatted dwellings at first floor,” the statement said.