The charity has just completed construction at Meadow House in Prestonpans, with the development fully allocated and let from its own waiting list in the county. The opening of the development in the town’s Jim Bush Drive marks Lar’s seventh completed development in East Lothian with an eighth, also in Prestonpans, set to finish within the next few weeks.

Lar, which provides affordable homes at mid-market rents, has over 40 sites around Scotland either completed, under construction or in planning. This particular site had remained undeveloped for years after the surrounding homes were completed, possibly due to the requirement to build commercial units in addition to residential apartments.

With Lar’s rapid growth in the area however, an opportunity to build their own base near to their tenants was exactly what the charity was looking for. Using their in-house architecture resource, Lar amended the planning permission to reconfigure the commercial space, allowing two disabled friendly apartments, complete with spacious wet rooms and private gardens to be incorporated within the final design. This increased the types of homes which are available to meet tenants’ needs whilst also providing a vibrant commercial aspect to the development.

Lar’s chief executive, Ann Leslie, said: “There is always an extraordinary level of demand for high quality mid-market rental homes in East Lothian. It is lovely to have been able to take this site and build such beautiful apartments and I would like to thank Cruden for carrying out such first-class work with real attention to detail apparent throughout the development.

“I am also delighted that Lar is able to open its first office space in East Lothian, providing a much-needed base for our staff who live in the county, thus enabling us to better serve our tenants in the area as well as operate much more sustainably.”

With the lease agreed for one of the other commercial units, negotiations are underway for the last remaining commercial unit with confirmed interest having been received.

Subject to building warrant approval, bespoke fit-out of the commercial units will commence shortly.

Tenants for the 16 two-bed flats have just moved into their new homes and the feedback received has been excellent.