Blindwells has been approved as the name of East Lothian’s new settlement.
Today’s meeting of East Lothian Council heard that the name had been supported by 71% of respondents to a public consultation.
The council's vision is to see the new settlement develop into an exemplar community in which to live, work and play with mixed-tenure housing including affordable homes, first-class facilities and amenities, local employment opportunities, combined with a vibrant landscape.
Recognising the unique opportunity this presents, we asked local schools to compile a shortlist of names – either chosen from a long list based around themes including local farms, landscape features, people, events and waterbodies, or to put forward their own suggestions.
The panel consisting of councillors and senior officials then met to consider responses submitted by 28 schools. The panel determined that the most popular and suitable names were Charlestoun, Hattonfield, Hopetoun, Muirdale and Nethermuir.
The panel also decided that the name Blindwells, the name by which the former opencast mine was known, should be included on the shortlist of potential names for public consultation.
Consultation results
The results of the consultation were:
- Blindwells – 2,278 preferences
- Charlestoun – 217 preferences
- Hattonfield – 118 preferences
- Hopetoun – 290 preferences
- Muirdale – 181 preferences
- Nethermuir – 134 preferences
The vast majority of responses were expressed online while local residents also had the option of completing a slip which was enclosed within Living, East Lothian Council’s newspaper.
Background
Blindwells is an area of land measuring 540 hectares, located to the north of Tranent and close to the A1 and East Coast Main Line.
East Lothian Council believes the site can be transformed into a vibrant new community for the 21st century and beyond. We are keen to secure development of a high quality new mixed community that meets the needs and aspirations of future generations as an exemplar place to live, work and play.
The East Lothian Local Development Plan, approved by Scottish Ministers, identifies the site as a safeguard for a new settlement with potential for more than 6,000 new homes. This provides significant opportunities for affordable housing, economic development, inward investment and job creation.
In 2017, Hargreaves Land received planning permission in principle for 1,600 new homes across 390 acres of the site. This first phase of development will include mixed tenures of affordable properties, education facilities, a healthcare hub, local retail outlets and other services needed for a new community.
Detailed planning applications are required to be submitted to the council for determination before any development takes place.