Blindwells prospectus published

The Blindwells Development Area is the largest of seven strategic sites included in The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal (ESES Deal) which have been identified as being able to deliver new housing at pace and scale in the areas where national need and demand is greatest.

A new Blindwells Prospectus has now been published, setting out the potential benefits that the site could bring locally, regionally, nationally and to the UK as a whole. It highlights the importance of planned support and investment both now and in the years beyond the ESES Deal period. East Lothian Council, working with private sector partners, with support from Scottish Futures Trust, is seeking to unlock these strategic benefits through the development of a business case under the ESES Deal for Government consideration.

Government and wider public and private sector support will be essential to realise the full potential of Blindwells as a well-planned, well-connected new settlement with economic opportunities as well as warm, energy efficient homes, including affordable homes, which can help to address inequality, child poverty and productivity across the region. Government approval of the associated business case stages is necessary to ensure that the potential expansion of Blindwells can be progressed in a properly planned, managed and funded way.

The Prospectus follows the decision taken in June 2025 by the council and the ESES Deal Joint Committee to approve a Strategic Outline Business Case for Blindwells for submission to the Scottish and UK Governments. Since then, both Governments have acknowledged the importance of the project to housing and growth opportunities for Scotland and the Scottish Government has identified it as a strategic ambition in its Housing Emergency Action Plan, published in September 2025.

The Prospectus is a public document compiled by the council and the ESES Deal with Blindwells landowners and developers that can be used to help engage stakeholders during the next steps of business case development – focusing on the importance of partnership working, an infrastructure-first approach and financial innovation in capital and revenue terms, with the need for an appropriate delivery vehicle to be established.

As a long-term project, over the next 30 years, Blindwells new settlement has the capacity to deliver over 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. It could increase East Lothian’s population by around 25% and become a new regional hub for service provision and business, commercial and leisure activity.

Council Leader Norman Hampshire said: “East Lothian is one of Scotland’s smallest local authorities with one of the lowest levels of revenue support grant nationally, but we are also one of the fastest growing areas in Scotland. All of this means that to deliver the essential infrastructure required to enable Blindwells to reach its full potential as an influential, innovative, healthy and net zero place that will be of national importance, we must leverage our position as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal to gain the financial support that it can provide, plus attracting a large amount of private and public sector investment well into the future. The publication of this prospectus is an important step in this project and allows anyone with an interest to see at a glance the benefits it could deliver to our local communities and nationally.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan said: “The development of the new town of Blindwells is a transformative opportunity. To allow us to move to the next phase of this vital project, the Scottish Government has agreed to provide flexibility in funding of £2.4 million, through its grant settlement with East Lothian Council, to support the development of an outline business case.”

The Outline Business Case is the next step which, if approved by Government, will be followed by Full Business Cases, which could ultimately lead to implementation subject to business case approvals and wider statutory processes.

The Prospectus will be available on the ESES Deal website and the East Lothian Council website.

Niall McLean, Development Director at Hargreaves Land, said: “As Blindwells master-developer, we have been working closely with the council and other partners for over a decade to plan and deliver a sustainable new community with the infrastructure, services and employment opportunities needed to support long-term prosperity and quality of life. We welcome the publication of this Prospectus which provides a clear and compelling framework for continued public and private sector collaboration, giving confidence that, with the right investment and delivery arrangements, Blindwells can realise its full potential.”

Richard Holland, Taylor Wimpey’s Strategic Project Director, said: “We are pleased that the City Region Deal’s Blindwells Prospectus has been published today, signalling positive progress with the project. This comprehensive document summarises the significant potential benefits that the new town development could bring locally, regionally, and nationally through a strong vision, partnership working, and investment in enabling an infrastructure first delivery strategy to create and support this new community, helping to regenerate this former coalfield area. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with East Lothian Council, Hargreaves, Scottish Futures Trust, and both Governments during the next stage of the project.”