Planners have approved an application from Mactaggart & Mickel Homes for 60 properties for private sale and 22 affordable homes for the site.

Known as 1B, this next phase will now include house styles from Mactaggart & Mickel Homes’ Design Collection.

The housebuilder is already building 33 new properties within Letham Mains, with the first showhomes due to open at the end of September.

Craig Ormond, director of Mactaggart & Mickel Homes, said: “Lethington Gardens already features Design Collection properties, so we wanted to ensure that these neighbouring houses have a similar look and feel in design terms. We are delighted that the council have agreed with us.”

Lethington Gardens is part of a wider masterplan by a number of housing developers in this area, creating a vibrant new community with facilities and amenities to match. The plans include a new primary school at the heart of the development – to be home to nearly 500 pupils - sport pitches and changing facilities, as well as a new park running east/west alongside the Letham Burn. There will be a central hub of small shops and businesses and a new road linking West Road and Pencaitland Road.

Along with other developers, Mactaggart & Mickel Homes is contributing £9.2 million towards the new primary school plus a further £1.58m will go towards new secondary accommodation for Knox Academy.

A further £524k will help fund the expansion of Aubigny Sports Centre in the town, with £135,000 earmarked to create a new path network and to maintain the new playing fields and changing pavilion.

Councillor John McMillan, a ward councillor for Haddington, said: “Mactaggart & Mickel Homes’ plans will enhance an already high quality area. The wider development at Letham Mains will create a sense of community from day one, thanks to an astute mix of housing, infrastructure, retail, education and leisure facilities.”