By Ian McConnell

A PLANNING application has been submitted to build 197 homes on the site of a former opencast mine on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The latest application for new homes at the mixed-use development project at Blindwells, by Persimmon Homes, could mean a third housebuilder will be on site before the end of the year.

Site developer Hargreaves Land noted that, if the application was approved by East Lothian Council’s planning committee, construction work could begin in late 2021, “potentially creating upwards of 600 construction and supply chain jobs and pumping hundreds of thousands of pounds annually into the local economy”.

Persimmon’s plans, which incorporate proposals for a mixture of 167 two, three and four bedroomed two-storey houses, include provision for the development of 30 affordable properties on the site, Hargreaves Land noted.

Hargreaves Land noted that Bellway had earlier this year started the development of its Prince’s Gate scheme at Blindwells and Cruden was "making progress on the construction of 60 affordable homes on behalf of East Lothian Council".

It added that redevelopment of the 390-acre former opencast mine site, which in time would include a new primary school and town centre amenities, was "seen as a much-needed boost for East Lothian’s housing stock, particularly the availability of more affordable properties, and comes as Scotland continues to suffer a national housing shortfall".