Plans submitted to build low carbon community in East Lothian

Plans for a low carbon community at Hallhill, Dunbar, have been launched.

DunBear Park will provide a variety of retail, office, leisure, distribution and residential opportunities, as well as community uses.

Designed around The DunBear sculpture, the site is part of the Hallhill development and has appropriately been named DunBear Park.

Built on the success of the sculpture, the development will assist in creating jobs and delivering housing for key workers, who have played a vital role during covid-19.

It will also play a major role in supporting the economic recovery from the current crisis, in which the construction sector could play a major part.

Plans include 100 low carbon affordable homes, aimed at key workers, such as NHS staff, police and care workers and will be delivered without any additional government subsidy.

The sculpture pays tribute to Dunbar-born naturalist John Muir, credited with playing a key role in the establishment of national parks around the world.

A Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) has now been submitted with East Lothian Council, highlighting the intent of the developer, Hallhill Developments Ltd, to lodge a planning application for Planning Permission in Principle, establishing the principle of development of the site.

DunBear Park is a 54.3-acre mixed-use development which will provide a variety of retail, office, leisure, distribution and residential opportunities, as well as community uses.

This includes retail and leisure units, drive-thru units, a hotel, offices, a nursery, care home and elderly amenity flats, as well as industrial and storage units. An innovation centre will also assist in accelerating the business growth of entrepreneurs, business start-ups and SMEs

The plans also include 100 low carbon affordable homes, aimed at key workers, such as NHS staff, police and care workers and will be delivered without any additional government subsidy.

DunBear Park will adopt innovative low carbon technology to generate renewable heat and power on site, ensuring minimal impact on the environment. Since commencing work in 1999 the Hallhill mixed-use development has delivered considerable retail and leisure opportunities.

Over the years it has grown and brought major economic benefits to Dunbar and East Lothian. An independent economic assessment identified that over 600 jobs have been created, 1,524 homes have been built or are under construction and over £30m is being contributed into the local economy every year.

Extensive community engagement on the proposals for DunBear Park will be undertaken, based on new Scottish Government guidance that has temporarily suspended public consultation events and replaced these with live and interactive web-based consultation for major planning applications. This will take place on Wednesday 3rd June from 5pm to 8pm.

Speaking on behalf of Hallhill Developments Ltd, Ken Ross commented: “We are delighted to be bringing forward proposals for our low carbon community, which we are aiming to be an exemplar development, adopting the latest low carbon technology

“DunBear Park will assist in creating jobs and delivering housing for key workers, who have played such vital role during COVID-19. It will also assist in the supporting the construction-led recovery from the current crisis.

“We will be undertaking extensive engagement on our proposals and look forward to the involvement of the community in shaping our development going forward.”

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