Finalised East Lothian Local Plan 2005

The Finalised East Lothian Local Plan 2005 was approved by East Lothian Council in June 2005. When finally adopted it will replace the East Lothian Local Plan 2000. Certified copies of the Finalised East Lothian Local Plan 2005 and a statement of publicity and consultation were deposited at the Council offices at John Muir House Court Street Haddington, and East Lothian Council Area Offices and Libraries. The objection period ran from 8th August to 20th September 2005. No further objections to the Plan's content are being accepted after that date.

Further information about the Finalised Plan can be obtained from the Council’s Planning Policy & Projects Team by telephoning 01620 827397.

The Plan, Maps, Publicity & Consultation document and links to relevant planning legislation can be found in the quick links box to the right. Please note that the Council wide proposals map is too large a file to place on the web page. Please contact the Council at the number above if you wish to view this map in electronic format.

Objections to Finalised East Lothian Local Plan 2005

A total of 422 separate objections have been made against the Finalised Local Plan from 178 individuals and organisations.

Each objection is summarised in the excel spreadsheet (summary of objections) that can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate quick link on the right.

Each objection has been given a unique objection number and objection reference number. The latter reference will identify each objection in any future correspondence and at a public local inquiry if necessary.

The objections are presented in the spreadsheet in alphabetical order, first by company or organisation and then by individual objector surname. Objections from individuals follow those from companies and organisations. Please note that details of objections cannot be treated as confidential.

A breakdown of the objections shows the following -

Business & Industry - 30. Majority opposed to proposed Green Belt employment allocations to west of Musselburgh, employment land allocation at Alderston House Haddington and to lack of support for rural economy. Four objections relate to potential flood risk on business sites.

Community Services - 66. Fifty eight objections to Policy C8 - Musselburgh Lagoons and in particular support for Musselburgh race course proposals.

Development in the Countryside - 30. Seven relate to loss of Green Belt and thirteen to lack of conformity to government guidance or structure plan in respect of promotion of the rural economy. Plan should allow greater flexibility for rural housing - both conversion and new build.

Development Policies - 17. Various matters including housing density.

Education - 6. Majority in relation to developer contributions.

Energy - 2. Plan should be more specific about impact of renewable energy proposals on biodiversity as a material planning consideration

Built Heritage - 23. Half relate to Policy ENV10 which gives conditional support to limited development at West Road Haddington.

Natural Heritage - 3. Plan should be more specific on wildlife site boundaries and semi-natural habitat.

Housing - 184. Twenty four relate to Blindwells and in particular opposition to safeguarded expansion area (Proposal H1a). Eleven seek clarity on Policy H5 - Affordable Housing and six on Policy H6 seeking either deletion or inclusion of market housing in the Policy. Fifty objections relate to specific sites. There are also various objections to non-allocation of sites. SEPA have objected to 15 sites on flood risk grounds with recommendations that three be deallocated.

Minerals - 2. One to lack of area of search for open cast coal and one seeks inclusion of sites at Winton Estate for sand & gravel.

Retailing - 13. Incude lack of general retail assessment for East Lothian, esp. Haddington. Objections to Proposal R2 (Dunbar) and non-allocation of land for retail at N. Berwick and Haddington

Transport - 20. Mostly in relation to lack of reference to public transport provision.

Infrastructure - 6. Related to flood plain policy and developer contributions.

Tourism - 9. Mostly that Plan does not do enough for existing tourist attractions.

Waste - 3. Plan should reflect national and area waste plans and provide for recycling facilities in new development.

Miscellaneous - 8. Timing of objection period, lack of time for objections, local employment & tourism in N. Berwick, lack of settlement statements or action plan.

Public Local Inquiry

Link to Public Local Inquiry Page

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

The Council was granted an exemption from the need to carry out Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Finalised East Lothian Local Plan 2005 by the Scottish Executive on 11th July 2005. This follows on from a submission made to the Executive by the Council in December 2004 requesting such an exemption. Instead of SEA the Executive requires that the Council put in place mechanisms to monitor the environmental effects of the Local Plan.

Letham Mains Haddington Development Framework

Mains Farm & Gilsland North Berwick Development Framework

The Council has consulted with the Scottish Executive (Historic Scotland), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage (collectively the 'Consultation Authorities') on the need to prepare Development Frameworks for the strategic housing / mixed use Proposals at Letham Mains Haddington and Mains Farm & Gilsland North Berwick. The Council has determined that these Frameworks require to go through a process of Strategic Environmental Assessment as set out in the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

The formal Determinations are attached for information to the right.