Town population set to soar

THE population of Haddington is expected to boom if a masterplan including the creation of 750 new homes on the western edge of the town is approved.

The development on 43 hectares of land at Letham Mains, which is set to be approved by East Lothian Council's cabinet at a meeting tomorrow, could see the population of Haddington - currently estimated at between 9500 and 10,000 - increase by up to 20 per cent.

A final development framework has been created by East Lothian Council following an extensive consultation at the end of last year.

A number of additional planned facilities are proposed to support the development, including a new primary school.

Work on the proposed settlement could begin as early as 2012. It would take up to nine years to complete.