East Lothian Council has agreed to ask for Scottish and UK Government support to help deliver Blindwells – Scotland’s first new large-scale settlement in 60 years.
In a report, which was discussed in private at this week’s Council meeting due to commercially sensitive information, councillors were asked to agree an Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal Strategic Outline Business Case for Blindwells, the preparation of which has been led by the Council for submission to both governments for their consideration.
This is the first step in this process, noting that the Joint Committee of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal (ESESCRD) also endorsed the Blindwells Strategic Outline Business Case earlier this month. This step does not confirm that the Council will expand Blindwells, as all expansion plans must be considered and decided under planning procedures, but is a key step to establish whether government support can be provided to ensure this can happen in an appropriate way.
Blindwells is one of seven strategic housing sites across the ESESCRD area (Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian, Fife and the Scottish Borders) identified as key areas of change and growth which will help to alleviate the National Housing Emergency. In addition, Blindwells can support sustainable growth and development within the region and local area as well as reinvigorate a former coal field area and help regenerate communities.
As a long term project, over the next 30 years, Blindwells new settlement has the capacity to deliver around 10,000 new homes, of which at least 2,500 will be affordable homes, as well as a town centre with employment and wider commercial and other opportunities. The business case notes the critical need for an infrastructure first and net zero approach to delivery as well as additional support to fund public services.
Blindwells would increase East Lothian’s population by around 25% and become a new regional hub for service provision and business, commercial and leisure activity.
The business case, which has been prepared by the Council in collaboration with Scottish Futures Trust, Hargreaves Services PLC and Taylor Wimpey PLC, requests financial support from both governments via the ESESCRD to help enable and accelerate the ongoing delivery of Blindwells. Hargreaves and Taylor Wimpey are major landowners of the wider Blindwells site.
Council Leader Norman Hampshire said: “The support of both governments will be essential to achieving our ambitions for Blindwells, which is Scotland’s first new settlement since Irvine in 1966. Along with our partners, East Lothian Council wants to create Blindwells as an influential, innovative, healthy and net zero place that is a vibrant destination and attractor.
“The reality is that East Lothian is one of Scotland’s smallest local authorities with one of the lowest levels of revenue support grant nationally. We cannot deliver the essential infrastructure required to make Blindwells an exemplar new town for the future without leveraging our position as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal and gaining the financial support that it can provide, plus attracting a large amount of private investment.
“The fact that East Lothian is part of the rapidly growing capital city region means that any investment in Blindwells will in turn support the national and UK economy as well as deliver benefits to our local communities and places. We hope our business case will be successful in attracting the large amount of forward investment from both governments required to achieve our vision.”
An initial analysis of the strategic impact Blindwells can deliver reveals the potential for significant economic and wider benefits at local, regional, national and UK level, including:
• around £2 billion in construction phase
• around £7.5 billion when operational (over 30 years)
• around 1,000 jobs per year in construction phase
• around 4,000 jobs supported / created in operation
• around £2.5-£2.8 billion private investment leverage
It is hoped that the Blindwells Strategic Outline Business Case may be approved by both governments in Winter 2025, followed by a more detailed co-produced Outline Business Case in 2026 and a Full Business Case in early 2029.