Health secretary Shona Robison MSP marked the official start of works on the new £70 million East Lothian Community Hospital yesterday.

The redevelopment of the hospital site is being undertaken in partnership with hub South East Scotland, with Morrison Construction appointed as the preferred phase one contractor.

The programme of works will see a modern and purpose-built hospital developed on the existing Roodlands site in Haddington, helping improve the quality of care for people in East Lothian.

Richard Park, operations director at hub South East Scotland, said: “We’ve been involved in this project since the early stages, helping shape plans for the redevelopment and enabling works to start on site. It’s great to now be recognising the start of construction and knowing that these plans will soon become reality.

“This is hub South East’s largest project to begin construction, and the largest Hub deal signed so far in Scotland. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with NHS Lothian to ensure that patients will benefit from modern, fit for purpose facilities and the community will benefit from investment in the local area.”

Philip Galbraith, project director for Morrison Construction, added: “We are pleased to be commencing on this significant health project for Hub South East Scotland and NHS Lothian. We look forward to successfully delivering this project for our client and wider stakeholders, and in turn provide the local community with an enhanced built environment and improved facilities.”

Ms Robison said: “This is an important step forward for the community in East Lothian, and with work now underway we are a step closer to seeing this vital new facility become a reality.

“The Scottish Government is investing over £2 billion in Scotland’s health infrastructure between 2013-14 and 2017-18. Our investment in these new facilities will help us to achieve our ambition of transforming the way health and social care services are delivered, keeping NHS Scotland at the forefront of delivering world-class care.”

The construction work is anticipated to be complete by 2019.