Work is due to begin on the construction of 52 new affordable houses in East Lothian after the £4.2m contract was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet today (8 April 2008).

 52 houses will be built on the 43-hectare site at West Windygoul, Tranent. Previously known as 'Plot D' the area will be known as Baxter's Gate. The Council will retain 42 houses while 10 will be sold on completion to Lothian Homes, a subsidiary of Castle Rock/ Edinvar Housing Association, to be sold under the Scottish Government's Homestake scheme. The completed development will have a mixture of different-sized properties: from one-bedroom flats to three bedroom houses, as well as two bungalows specifically designed for wheelchair users.

The contract, worth over £4.2m was awarded to Hart Builders Edinburgh Ltd following a competitive tendering process. This represents an average cost of £82,297 per house, excluding professional fees etc. Work will begin in May 2008 and is due to be completed in August 2009.

Cabinet member for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Stuart Currie, said: “We have committed £25m of Council funding to building new affordable homes in the county over the next three years, as well as seeking additional external funding through our RSL partners. The development at Baxter's Gate will be the first of many that will benefit tenants and residents across the county and tackle East Lothian's affordable housing problems head-on.”