Plans for shops at Blindwells could be decided on this year

Plans for a town centre in the former opencast mine site are already being weighed up by East Lothian Council.

Twelve months ago, landowners Hargreaves Land revealed ambitious plans for a dozen retail units, a convenience store and half a dozen office units.

Also proposed were healthcare facilities via a ‘wellbeing centre’, a care home, gym and community space in a bid to create a sustainable and pedestrian-friendly town centre.

A decision on those proposals could be made by the end of the year.

However, it is thought that it could take “two to three years” for the commercial units to be open.

In the meantime, Hargreaves Land is aiming to have a “temporary retail amenity” in place by “early in 2025”.

READ MORE: PICTURES: First look at what Blindwells High Street could look like

Bruce Lindsay, development director at Hargreaves Land, told the Courier: “With regards to the planning application for the new town centre, Hargreaves Land is confident that there will be a decision later this year.

“If successful, this would lead to the development of a wide range of commercial spaces including retail and leisure units, community and wellbeing facilities as well as new business space.

“Hargreaves Land is looking to provide a range of facilities for residents to help make Blindwells a sustainable community.

“The vision is not to replicate the facilities that are already in place in the surrounding areas. 

“Like any commercial development, however, the eventual tenant line-up will be determined by where the occupier demand lies, in terms of which businesses come forward as tenants.

“From the market testing that has been undertaken so far, there appears to be genuine interest for a good range of uses, which is very promising.

As many as 300 homes at Blindwells are now occupied (Image: Hargreaves Land)

“From the point of receiving planning permission, it is likely to take two to three years until Blindwells has occupied commercial units.

“This is due to the required lead-in times, construction and marketing periods, and the time it takes for occupiers to undertake their own internal fitouts. 

“In the meantime, Hargreaves Land is keen to provide a temporary retail amenity for residents and is hopeful that early in 2025 this will be in place.

“A temporary community space has already been put in place by Hargreaves Land.”

The first family moved into the new town, between Tranent, Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton, and Longniddry, in the spring of 2022.

Since then, between 280 and 300 new homes have become occupied at the various development sites.

READ MORE: Family of five become first residents of new town of Blindwells

Hargreaves Land is also bringing forward new play parks, planting thousands of trees, installing electric vehicle charging points and other factors to make Blindwells “an attractive and healthy place to live”.

Planning permission is already in place for up to 1,600 homes on the site.

However, discussions have previously taken place to see that number increase significantly over the coming years.

Mr Lindsay said: “The Hargreaves Land team foresee that it could take a further seven years to reach the delivery of 1,600 homes at Blindwells, which is the number that are currently permitted by East Lothian Council.

“Beyond this point, the decision over how many additional homes could be permitted, lies with East Lothian Council.

“If further homes are permitted, it would be subject to a significant investment in additional infrastructure.

“The actual construction of new homes would then only become a reality if housebuilders were of the opinion that the demand from residents was in place at that time.”