The council said its ambitious plan will deliver land for affordable and private housing and for employment uses. The plan indicates where new developments such as housing, business and other uses are likely to be supported and where certain types of development would not be supported. It provides the essential framework against which planning applications will be assessed.

The ELLDP 2018 complies with the Strategic Development Plan (SDP1) for Edinburgh and South East Scotland, which was prepared by SESplan and approved by Scottish Ministers. It also links to the Council Plan, the Single Outcome Agreement, the council’s Economic Development Strategy and City Deal Proposals.

Following an extensive period of consultation, the council produced its draft LDP, which was submitted to the Scottish Government Reporter for examination. The result of that examination was received in March, with some recommended modifications to the proposed LDP.

The ELLDP 2018 approved by council now has to go through the final stage of being reviewed by Scottish Ministers and once cleared by them will then be formally adopted as the East Lothian Local Development Plan 2018 by the council.

Modifications recommended by the Scottish Government reporter included the removal of sites earmarked for potential new housing at Howe Mire, Wallyford, Humbie and East Saltoun and changing land at Windygoul South, Tranent from mixed use to housing. The plan also reflects the decision taken by the council’s Planning Committee to approve new housing at Newtonlees in Dunbar.

Depute council leader Norman Hampshire said: “I am pleased that the Scottish Government has broadly agreed with the content of our proposed LDP and I consider the modifications they recommended were minor. This underlines how effective council officers’ expertise, dedication, consultation and research has been in pulling this plan together.

“It supports our aspirations for enhancing our communities and economy and the provision of the infrastructure needed to help meet the needs of an increasingly prosperous East Lothian.

“The LDP will help us to control where and how that development happens, and will allow us to accommodate new homes, including affordable homes, businesses, schools and infrastructure to the benefit of East Lothian, while maintaining the ethos of our communities that residents enjoy and indeed which attracts new people to live and work here. It also helps us to protect our fantastic natural environment, wildlife and scenery.”