CALA Homes has welcomed local engagement after revealing eagerly anticipated plans for its brownfield development at Gullane’s former Fire College.
A public exhibition held Tuesday [November 29th] at Henderson House – within the Fire College site on which it is set to build – was attended by more than 75 local people.
The proposed redevelopment of the historic Scottish Fire and Rescue Service College site, received a Minded to Grant Planning Permission in Principle back in April 2016 and is earmarked for development in East Lothian Council’s draft Proposed Local Development Plan, as part of a wider release of land across the County.
Edinburgh headquartered CALA Homes was confirmed as the preferred developer last month and is hoping to begin on site in early 2017.
Speaking after the event, Craig Lynes, Land Director at CALA Homes (East), said: “The Fire College has been a fixture in Gullane for more than 60 years so we are delighted to have had such a strong show of interest and contributions ahead of our work there.
“It is a great opportunity to make the most of a striking and much-loved local building – in Henderson House – while developing the rest of the site into a wide range of bespoke,high-quality housing.”
The site, which has remained unused since operations were moved to Cambuslang in 2013, will be redeveloped into 125 homes, in line with the Planning Permission approved by East Lothian Council in April 2016.
CALA Management Ltd will lodge the Approval of Matters Specified in Conditions (AMsC) in early December this year to redevelop the brownfield site, which will include 31 affordable homes, the refurbishment of Henderson House, and a wide range of apartments, mews, terraced units and semi/detached housing.
In total, CALA will give East Lothian Council £1,843,000 to spend on the improvement of educational and other public facilities within the village.
Craig added: “We are committed to contributing to the local community and helping to ensure that Gullane remains the fantastic place to live that it is now.
“We welcome the feedback received from residents as to how we can move forward with this landmark development in East Lothian.”
Gullane Pre-School, Gullane Primary and North Berwick High School are all set to benefit from substantial monetary contributions.
The developer, which has its national Head Office in Edinburgh, has had a long association with the coastal villages and towns in East Lothian, including current developments in North Berwick, and has previously developed in Gullane.
Originally opened as The Marine Hotel, the Fire Service College was opened in 1954, providing recruit training for each of the eight preceding fire and rescue services in Scotland.
