Marks & Spencer, Lidl, B&M and Costa plans for Dunbar site

The four national retail chains are being eyed up as potential additions to the land to the rear of the town’s Asda store.

Revamped plans for the area, previously known as DunBear Park and now called Dunbar Business Park, were submitted to East Lothian Council last Tuesday.

Next month, members of the public will get the chance to see early plans for the site through a consultation event in the town.

Members of Dunbar Community Council heard about the plans from Alastair Dickie, of West Ranga Property Group, for the first time last Monday.

Permission was given for a Lidl and B&M store in Dunbar nearly two years ago. This was one of the images used at the time to show how the site could look (Image: Contributed)

Two years ago, planning permission was given for Lidl, B&M and Starbucks on the site but work has yet to start.

Mr Dickie told the group that the site would not be viable with only two larger stores and, alongside Lidl and B&M, he named Marks & Spencer Food as a potential operator.

“That’s the three names we will come forward with,” he said at the meeting.

Pippa Swan, chairwoman of the group, welcomed the update.

She said: “Really, we were hugely grateful to Mr Dickie for coming to the meeting.

“It was a courtesy visit on his part and a chance to become aware of the much bigger event to be held in November.

“The headline news of Marks & Spencer food, in addition, will generally be received warmly.

“It remains our ambition to do all we can to protect and enhance businesses on the High Street.”

Mrs Swan encouraged people to head along to either of the public consultation events, which will take place before the end of the year.

READ MORE: Dunbar: Lidl, B&M and Starbucks approved at DunBear Park

She said: “We want it to be a success all round.

“We want it to be a success for the High Street as a potential spin-off, we want it to be a success for the residents who will be able to access services they could not previously access, employment opportunities not previously there, and for the developers.

“If it is a success for them, they will continue to invest in the 54-acre site, which they have said has decades of life in it.”

Mr Dickie confirmed that a proposal of application notice (PAN) would be lodged with the local authority this week.

Public exhibitions are expected to be held at Hallhill Sports Centre from noon to 7pm on both November 18 and December 16.

READ MORE: Dunbar: New plans being drawn up for DunBear Park site after sale

It was also confirmed that it was hoped Costa would now operate the drive-thru coffee shop, rather than Starbucks.

A fresh planning application is likely to be needed due to changes in the design.

The large site lies between Asda, the A1 and the East Coast Main Line.

Councillor Donna Collins, who represents the town on East Lothian Council, was among those at the community council meeting.

She welcomed the update and said that one of the most common questions she was asked was when B&M was going to open.

The councillor was hopeful that people travelling to Edinburgh or Berwick for their nearest Marks & Spencer would now consider stopping off in Dunbar instead.

Permission was given for a Lidl and B&M store in Dunbar nearly two years ago. This was one of the images used at the time to show how the site could look (Image: Contributed)

She said: “I think Marks & Spencer would be good because it gives a completely different type of shopping experience for folk.”

Fellow ward member Councillor Lyn Jardine welcomed that there were “companies out there willing to invest in Dunbar”.

She said: “I have seen elsewhere where it works really well having two quite different retail opportunities next to each other.

“I think there would still be concerns from retailers in the town centre.

“Obviously, that will be something that would have to go through planning again in understanding what that impact is.”

A spokesperson for Marks & Spencer said: “There is no update to share.”