New Development Team to help shape East Lothian’s future
Many of you will know Andy Stewart from his previous role as Policy & Strategy Team Manager in Planning and Catherine Molloy as Legal Team Leader.
Andy and Catherine have been appointed into new Project Manager roles which means, along with Ray Montgomery, they will be overseeing the progress of three of the most significant developments in East Lothian for decades: 
- A new settlement at Blindwells – a large area, to the north of Tranent, which the council believes can be transformed into a vibrant new community for the 21st century and beyond, and an exemplar place in which to live, work and play. Outline planning permission is in place for 1,600 homes, with potential for more than 6,000 home on the larger site.
- The former Cockenzie Power Station site – land purchased by the council, where there is significant potential for economic development and job creation.
- Land around Queen Margaret University – where development is proposed for 1,500 new homes (including 375 affordable), a new primary school and delivery of the Edinburgh innovation Park. This is a joint collaboration between East Lothian Council and Queen Margaret University, which will include a Food and Drink Innovation Hub funded in part through the Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal.
It’s a huge responsibility and an exciting challenge for this new Development Team as these projects are not just long term – they have implications for East Lothian across the next three decades and beyond.
The projects are all at different stages but they are all identified or, in the case of the new larger settlement, safeguarded for development in the recently-agreed Local Development Plan (LDP).
Andy explained: “This is a unique opportunity to unlock some of the infrastructure that East Lothian needs. What’s key in all of this is to make sure the developments are complemented by the infrastructure they need. Traditionally there has been a market-lead approach but what we’re trying to do upfront is to shape the delivery model of these sites and to get the best we can in terms of making best use of the economic opportunities. It’s a great chance to get involved at the front end of a development process which isn’t something the public sector traditionally does these days.”
Catherine agreed: “The other key element is linking in with the South East Scotland City Region Deal and to unlock the funding opportunities there. It’s a wide-ranging project which will help us retain employment and skills in East Lothian as well as elements like affordable housing. When you look at these three sites, and when you drive along the A1, it’s incredible to think of how different the landscape will look but, as well, what benefits these developments will bring to East Lothian over the next 30 years. We need to make the most of this opportunity as something like this doesn't come along very often and it really is transformational in scale. We need to maximise the benefit of all this inward investment to deliver the ambition and economic goals that we have set ourselves.”
The team’s background in infrastructure, planning and law will help draw the project together in terms of both uniting council services - such as Procurement, Economic Development, Education, Estates, Property, Asset Management and Transportation - as well as private sector partners including landowners and developers, key agencies an governments, in forming partnerships to bring the developments forward in the most beneficial way for East Lothian.
Another benefit of the team working on these three major projects together is to ensure they are not developed in isolation – rather developed in tandem so that they complement each other in terms of the housing types they provide, shared infrastructure and the economic possibilities.
They will also ensure the developments complement the council’s strategic objectives including the Council Plan and Economic Development plan and help ELC meet its strategic aims.
Catherine summed up: “It's a very exciting opportunity, bringing forward unprecedented types of development in East Lothian and shaping what the landscape of East Lothian will look like in the next 10 to 30 years and being part of that significant change is obviously very exciting. It will bring with it challenges which we’re ready for but the magnitude of it in the short and long term means it will be a very rewarding job as we’ll be integral in bringing forward employment land to ensure that we retain jobs and skills in the county, make the most if the City Region Deal opportunities and bring forward affordable housing for the future of East Lothian residents.”
Andy added: “What you’ll see in the coming months is a real pace beginning to develop around these sites. The projects are at different stages but there will need to be a real momentum and buy-in from council and buy-in from external agencies. Collaboration will be key.”