CUSTOMERS could be walking through the doors of East Lothian’s first Marks & Spencer store within two years.

Members of the public were given the chance to look at plans for Dunbar Business Park for the first time on Monday afternoon.

The site, to the rear of the town’s Asda store and garden centre, would see Marks & Spencer open alongside Lidl and B&M.

About 100 people visited Hallhill Sports Centre over the course of the eight hours to see the proposals.

Alastair Dickie, of West Ranga Property Group, was pleased to say that the blueprints had attracted a largely positive response.

He said: “Most people welcome what’s happening and most people just want something to happen [with the site].”

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

A second public exhibition is due to take place next month, as the developers hope a planning application will be with East Lothian Council in January.

They then hope to receive planning consent for the site next June before work could potentially start next October.

Finally, it is hoped that the three stores will open in October 2026.

Pippa Swan, chairwoman of Dunbar Community Council, said that there was “a steady stream” of people attending the public exhibition when she visited at about 2pm.

She stressed that more detail, including planting and drainage, was to come out when plans were being drawn up.

Mrs Swan said: “As a first step, I thought it was very good.

“The feedback seems to be from speaking to Alastair Dickie that the general consensus seems to be really quite a lot of excitement at the possibility of having three new stores.

“There is a lot of excitement in particular about the Marks & Spencer and Lidl combination.

“The fact they have reached an agreement with the new tenants is a very strong sign that there will be a degree of urgency now to move the process along and get these building built.”

According to the display boards at the exhibition, East Oakwood Developments Ltd, which now owns the site, plans to invest £20 million in Dunbar, resulting in an estimated 100 jobs (full/part-time).

Permission was given for B&M and Lidl two years ago and remains valid until February 2027.

READ MORE: Lidl and B&M approved in Dunbar

However, the revised plans show that Lidl’s store would be slightly larger, while B&M would reduce slightly in size, with M&S Food joining the duo.

The display read: “It is proposed to add an additional retail unit to the already-consented scheme. This additional unit will be for M&S Food.

“The configuration of the development will be rationalised to create a retail terrace as opposed to individual units as previously approved.

“This allows for a more cohesive development and allows for shared infrastructure, such as car parking and service yard.”

The arrival of the three national retailers would be just part of the wider development, which will include “leisure, commercial and industrial units”.

However, one of the display boards noted: “These proposals are indicative only at this stage and will not form part of the retail application.”

Drawings showed drive-thru restaurants near the existing McDonald’s, with an application from Costa expected within a matter of weeks.

Mr Dickie also confirmed that the developers were “in discussions with a number of retailers” for future development on the site but they were looking to progress with the first stage of the development.

A second consultation event is due to take place on December 16 at Hallhill Sports Centre from noon to 7pm.