Tag: East Lothian Council

Could this small Scottish community lead the way in clean energy engagement?

East Lammermuir’s Pioneering Approach to Energy Projects

Believed to be the UK’s first Energy Projects Partnership Manager, a pioneering initiative in East Lothian is helping the transition to clean energy.

Up to 14 new electricity infrastructure projects are proposed for the East Lammermuir area, and the local community wanted to ensure that, once all new infrastructure is built and operational, the area is left better than it is today. At the same time, some of the developers in the region recognised the need for a more joined-up way of working. As a result, East Lammermuir is at the forefront of a new approach to community engagement. 

Co-ordinating this effort is the Energy Projects Partnership Manager, a unique role  helping balance the needs of the environment, local residents, East Lothian Council, and the many energy developers working in the area. It’s an approach that could shape how other communities and energy companies can work better together in the future.

Energy Projects Partnership Manager Beth Landon has just marked her first six months in post. Beth operates as a bridge between developers, residents, and East Lothian Council, helping all parties navigate competing priorities and complex plans.

Beth said: “For the communities where these developments are taking place, the pace and complexity of change can be challenging. And where multiple projects are happening at once, communities can struggle to stay informed and engaged.

“The construction of substations, grid connections, wind farms, and transmission lines can feel overwhelming, even when residents support the principle of a greener future. As the much-needed transition to clean energy grows, it is vital we learn lessons from the past, bringing communities and developers together early on with an agreed, collaborative approach. 

“I was attracted to this role because I saw an intention for all the partners to combine forces behind the implementation of a community-led vision for East Lammermuir, one in which the community is an equal partner and has genuine agency, which is articulated in their Local Place Plan.

“The potential to carve out a new approach together is incredibly exciting and I feel extremely privileged to be working alongside such a visionary community.”

The post is funded by SP Energy Networks (SPEN) and SSE Renewables, and supported by a wider steering group of energy businesses, East Lothian Council and chaired by East Lammermuir Community Council. 

Beth’s role is hosted and supported by Foundation Scotland, an independent charity already familiar with the area and trusted by local partners, offering both independence and expertise. Foundation Scotland worked with the steering group to develop Beth’s role, and as host, provides her with access to a broad national network of those who work on community benefit and other citizen-led funding models. 

Chris Bruce, Chair of the local Community Council said: “The pace of change proposed in East Lammermuir has heaped lots of additional work on the eight members of the community council.

“Whilst we have tried to step up as volunteers and respond as best we can, having a reliable, almost full-time person working constantly has made a huge difference to what we can achieve in trying to make the best of the unavoidable developments that are happening around us.”

Since starting in post, Beth has made significant progress in building relationships with local residents and ensuring that communication around the various energy projects is clear, timely, and accessible.

Engagement is improving with key local forums such as the Traffic and Biodiversity Groups which play a vital role in connecting community priorities with developer plans. Beth has also supported the Community Council in developing a strategy for managing incoming community benefit funds, ensuring that local investment reflects long-term aspirations. 

Residents from the Community Traffic and Travel forum said: “In just six months, Beth’s calm and purposeful approach has transformed a community frantically battling with a complex tangle of energy development projects and proposals into a well-coordinated programme.

“Beth is an invaluable single point of contact holding regular meaningful meetings with developers and the community alike. Beth provides clear and timely updates that allow the East Lammermuir community to feel that they have a voice that gets heard.  We are moving from firefighting to clear communication management and forward-planning of community benefit projects.”

There is already growing interest in and recognition of East Lammermuir’s model. In a national landscape where energy developments are expanding fast and public trust can be fragile, this small East Lothian community has shown that there is another way forward – one built on dialogue, partnership, transparency, and respect – quietly shaping how communities and industry can work together to power a fairer, greener future.

HES publishes decision NOT to list Brunton Hall in Musselburgh

Following an assessment of the building informed by public consultation, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has concluded that the Brunton Hall civic centre complex in Musselburgh is of special interest for listing, but that development proposals are too far advanced to list the site.

When deciding whether to designate a site while there are ongoing development proposals, HES considers the impact that designation would have on these plans; the effect of the proposed development on the significance of the site and the extent to which plans have already been developed.

East Lothian Council is currently considering the future of the building due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in its roof.

As part of the assessment of the site, HES carried out research and a public consultation to gather evidence about the significance of the site. Over 300 people from Musselburgh and across Scotland, as well as from further afield, took part in the consultation, providing valuable information to inform the decision.

Dara Parsons, Head of Designations at HES, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who took part in our consultation and gave their views on the building.

“When making decisions about designations, we consider the individual circumstances of each case. Because of the advanced development proposals for Brunton Hall, we decided not to proceed with listing at this time. Although we have decided not to list the site, we hope that our report setting out the special interest of the building will inform the decisions that are made about the site.”

More information about the consultation and the decision can be found on CitizenSpace.

Accounts Commission: Change needed to secure East Lothian Council’s financial future

East Lothian Council must make significant progress in changing how it delivers public services as it addresses significant demographic challenges, with rapidly expanding younger and older populations. 

In its latest report, the Accounts Commission recognises many of the council’s services have improved, or at least maintained levels of performance, in the face of financial pressures. But this has come at an unsustainable cost. The council can no longer rely on using money saved in reserves to support the delivery of services. It needs to be clearer about how it will balance its budget in a sustainable way. 

Given financial constraints and increasing demand, the council now focuses on a smaller number of key priorities. The council’s commitment to engaging with residents and communities is encouraging. But it must be clear about the services deprioritised and the impacts, as it looks to bridge a £46 million budget gap in the four years from 2026/27.

The council must make significant changes in how it delivers services. It benefits from having plans for change in place, but now needs to invest further and set clear actions and targets to drive digital transformation and save money through efficiency. Continuing to develop opportunities to collaborate and share services in the face of recruitment and retention challenges is critical.   

Jo Armstrong, Chair of the Accounts Commission said: ‘Unlike most councils in Scotland, East Lothian has numbers of both rapidly expanding younger and older populations.

“This presents real opportunities as well as significant challenges and strains on staff, money and resource.

“The council must continue to hold ongoing conversations with staff and communities to shape and agree the changes it needs to make to services. 

‘It’s reassuring the council’s latest financial plans limit the use of reserves.

“Now we need to see progress on the council’s programme to change how it delivers services and improves efficiency.

“This must happen, to ensure the council’s future financial security.” 

New major partnership will boost community wealth in East Lothian

Queen Margaret University (QMU) is joining forces with East Lothian Council and other key organisations across the country to support the authority’s efforts to increase community wealth in the region.

The University has become one of the first signatories of the council’s East Lothian Community Wealth Building Charter. The Charter, a formal partnership between East Lothian Council, QMU and other key stakeholders across the region, is part of the Scottish Government’s Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to harness the economic and social leverage of influential anchor institutions  across the country.

By working across multiple organisations, East Lothian Council aims to harness the collective power which exists in East Lothian to create more job opportunities, increase business growth, improve wellbeing and deliver substantial economic benefits.

QMU is already embedding the concept of CWB through a significant new partnership with Bright Red Triangle, the enterprise hub at Edinburgh Napier University, in a move which will improve and extend the level of entrepreneurial support available to university, college and wider communities.

The QMU Start Up Studio will accommodate both Bright Red Triangle and East Lothian Council’s Business Gateway services on its campus in Musselburgh, presenting a significant opportunity in raising the profile of East Lothian as a place which supports and accommodates start-ups businesses and spin-out companies.

The Council and Queen Margaret University believe that CWB principles can also positively shape and drive academic engagement with the Edinburgh Innovation Hub – a joint venture between East Lothian Council and QMU and funded by the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

The new Hub, which is on track for completion in 2025, will be made up of flexible laboratory, office and fully equipped meeting and conference spaces for rent and will be a major asset to the local communities, as well as further afield.

The University has an important presence in the county through a combination of being a largescale employer, generator of entrepreneurial thinking and innovation, purchaser of goods and services, and controller of large areas of land and fixed assets in the locality.

Kim Stuart, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange Development at QMU, said: “Queen Margaret University is totally committed to partnership working which delivers economic and societal benefits and the CWB approach aligns closely with many of QMU’s existing strategic objectives relating to social justice, wellbeing, sustainability, and more resilient local and regional economies.

“This new partnership presents a perfect opportunity for QMU to assist in enhancing the collective benefits which can be created within East Lothian. We hope that this relationship will help foster responsible entrepreneurship and develop solutions that have an impact on society, as a whole. We look forward to working with the Council and other organisations to create a strong and inclusive local economy.”

Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Council’s Cabinet Spokesperson for Economic Development said: “We are delighted to be working with Queen Margaret University as a signatory of the East Lothian Community Wealth Building Charter.

“Their plans to embed it strategically within the university recognises the importance of this approach and offers a model for other organisations to follow to deliver maximum impact.

“Community Wealth Building aims to redirect wealth back into the local economy to benefit local people. As an authority we’re embracing the opportunities this offers to deliver a fairer and more prosperous East Lothian in line with our key council priorities.

“Our Charter brings together organisations who are committed to this approach and who will work together to create a strong and resilient local economy which benefits everyone.”

Councillor John McMillan concluded: “Community Wealth Building is a cornerstone of the East Lothian Local Economy Strategy.

“Its adoption by Queen Margaret University builds upon our strong partnership and, in particular, the links that exist with our Economic Development service to support entrepreneurial activity, business start-ups and growth.”

East Lothian launches call-out for artists to help create Covid memorial

East Lothian Council, in partnership with greenspace scotland, has launched a call-out to commission an artist or artists to contribute to the region’s Covid community memorial, part of the Scotland-wide Remembering Together project.

Remembering Together East Lothian is managed by the Council Arts Service, and is being developed by artists Barbara Gardner-Rowell and Sophie Ferguson. In the project’s first phase they explored with local communities how best to reflect the region’s experiences during the pandemic, in order to create a lasting opportunity for the community to connect and reflect.

The result is a series of six accessible walking trails which have been mapped across the region, in Dunbar, Haddington, Musselburgh, North Berwick, Tranent, and Preston Seton Gosford.

The walks will encourage communities to come together and connect socially with the healing qualities of nature, reflecting the daily walking practice that many people adopted during lockdown. Each starts and finishes on local transport routes, offering an inclusive community resource that is easily accessible, that can be integrated into various facets of everyday life.

For the latest phase of the project East Lothian Council is seeking to commission an artist or artists to create a focal point of reflection for each of the six walking trails.

The commissions will be selected for their relevance and sensitivity to the project themes of Reflection, Remembering, Hope and Healing, and could be physical pieces situated on the walking route, or a soundscape, mural, piece of music or film, or digital artwork accessed via QR code.

The artist or artists selected for the commissions will be encouraged during the research phase to visit the walking trails and the archive to develop their final proposal. Funding of up to £60,000 is available to realise the artworks.

Submissions are required by 12 April 2024. Further details and information on how to apply can be found at rememberingtogethereastlothian.com

Green light for Lidl, B&M and Starbucks at DunBear Park, Dunbar

A hattrick of national chains are set to open at DunBear Park, Dunbar.

The green light for a Lidl and B&M retail stores, and a Starbucks coffee shop, follows the approval of planning applications, subject to conditions, at the planning committee of East Lothian Council yesterday (1st November 2022).

The Starbucks coffee shop will boast an outdoor seating area and drive thru facilities.

These developments overall are set to deliver a multi-million pound investment in the townand create around 100 new jobs for Dunbar.

The proposed 54.3-acre low carbon community of DunBear Park, being undertaken by Hallhill Developments Ltd, has at its centrepiece The DunBear sculpture. This five-metre-high steel sculpture of a brown bear pays tribute to John Muir, the Dunbar-born naturalist who played a key role in the establishment of National Parks in the USA. 

The exciting mixed-use development, neighbouring the A1, aims to include office, industrial, retail and community uses, adopting the latest low carbon technology. 

One of the key outcomes of the community consultation event held for the development was a clear desire by the community for a far greater retail offering in Dunbar, serving to address increased demand and providing greater competition.

It was noted that there are discount retailers in all the major towns in East Lothian, except Dunbar. Unsustainable travel is therefore occurring, with residents of the town and surrounding area shopping elsewhere, with the clear environmental impacts this has.

By preventing expenditure leakage from the town and the surrounding area to other parts of East Lothian and Edinburgh it will also keep money in the community.

The green light for the proposals follows approval of roads, footpaths and essential infrastructure planning applications last year.

The hattrick of planning approvals achieved will serve to unlock the site, financially pump priming infrastructure to deliver further employment uses.

This new infrastructure has to be installed at significant costs and this early phase of development on the DunBear site makes it more likely that future employment-generating development will occur.

Ken Ross from Hallhill Developments Ltd commented: “It was fantastic to see the committee approve these planning applications. At a time when many retailers are scaling back due to the fallout from the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, it is great to be able to deliver these national outlets for the community of Dunbar.

“These will serve to address the increased demand and provide greater competition, key themes that came from the community consultation exercise we undertook.

“Developments such as this complement Dunbar town centre, and through preventing retail leakage to elsewhere in East Lothian and Edinburgh will keep more money in the town.

“The multi-million pound investment will deliver around 100 much-needed new jobs for the local community, which is a clear vote of confidence in this location, and will also serve to deliver the necessary infrastructure to allow us to bring forward further investment into Dunbar.”

Two major retailers and £30m investment for DunBear Park

Two major retailers have been announced for DunBear Pak, Dunbar today (14th October).

Detailed planning applications have been submitted to East Lothian Council for Lidl (1996 sq. m.) and B&M (2218 sq. m.) stores, as well as essential road infrastructure. These are set to create up to 80 jobs for Dunbar should planning consent be given.  With site infrastructure this is set to deliver £30 million of investment in the development (images attached).

The joint application by Hallhill Developments Limited, Lidl and B&M follows planning applications for roads, footpaths and essential infrastructure submitted last year, together with renewable energy proposals for the site.

The 54.3-acre development is designed around The DunBear, the five-metre high steel sculpture of a brown bear which pays tribute to Dunbar-born naturalist, John Muir, credited with playing a key role in the establishment of National Parks in the USA. DunBear Park is part of the Hallhill development.

The exciting mixed-use development, which aims to include office, industrial, retail, leisure, extra care facilities, community and residential uses, will adopt the latest low carbon technology.

One of the key outcomes of the community consultation event for the DunBear Park development was a clear desire by the community for a far greater retail offering in Dunbar, serving to address increased demand and providing greater competition.

There are discount retailers in all the major towns in East Lothian, except Dunbar and unsustainable travel is therefore occurring, with residents of the town going to other towns.

By preventing expenditure leakage outwith the town to other parts of East Lothian and Edinburgh, it will also keep money in the community. Hallhill Developments have committed to work with local community groups, including the Dunbar Traders Association, to deliver onsite signage, pushing people to visit the town centre.

Development onsite also serves to financially pump prime infrastructure to deliver further employment uses on the site. New infrastructure has to be installed at significant costs and this early phase of development on the DunBear site makes it more likely that future employment-generating development will occur. 

The proposed road layout for the development provides a through route east to west across the site.  Safe and direct pedestrian and cycle routes are included within the scheme and will continue to be refined. 

DunBear Park aims to be a highly sustainable development, adopting the latest low carbon technology to generate renewable heat and power on site. This approach will ensure minimal impact on the environment and assist in tackling climate change, as well as supporting the green recovery from Covid-19.

Heating is planned to be delivered onsite via a highly innovative district heating network, including the use of modern, low carbon electric heat pumps. The pumps will be powered by their own green electricity supply fed from a series of photovoltaic and battery arrays, which will also deliver green energy to the whole site.

Ken Ross from Hallhill Developments Limited commented: “At a time when retailers are scaling back due to the pandemic, it is great to be able to announce that these operators will be coming to DunBear Park. This will address the increased demand and provide greater competition, key themes that came from the community consultation exercise we undertook.

“This £30 million investment will deliver up to 80 much-needed new jobs for the local community, which is a clear vote of confidence in this location and will also serve to deliver the necessary infrastructure to allow us to bring forward further investment into Dunbar.”

Philip Mellor from the Dunbar Traders’ Association commented: “Developments such as this complement Dunbar town centre, and through preventing retail leakage to elsewhere in East Lothian and Edinburgh will keep more money in the town.

“In order to maximise the potential of these exciting developments we will be working with the developer to establish ways to promote and use appropriate signage. This will attract people who are visiting these outlets and/or the fantastic DunBear sculpture to the town centre.

“This is a win-win situation for Dunbar.”