London & Scottish Developments has applied for planning permission for two buildings on the 1.5 acre site on land adjoining the Tesco store at Hardengreen.

The development aims to create around 60 jobs, depending on the hours of operation, and generate well over £100,000 a year in business rate income for Midlothian Council, as well as substantial economic benefits for the whole community.

It would also establish Hardengreen as a fast food and coffee hub for the area. McDonalds have already applied for planning permission for a new drive-thru restaurant in the adjacent Tesco car park.

Bryan Wilson, development director of London & Scottish Developments, said: “We believe this proposal will bring real economic and social benefits to the area.

“It will transform what is currently a dormant brown-field site, which is frequently targeted by fly-tippers, into an attractive eye-catching development that we hope will persuade people travelling south on the A7 to stop and spend some of their hard-earned cash in Midlothian.

“It will create around 20 jobs in the in the nine-month construction phase, then up to 60 premium retail jobs going forward. We will also provide 44 new car parking spaces without the loss of any existing spaces.”

London & Scottish Developments originally applied for permission for a Home Bargains store on the Hardengreen site, but Mr Wilson believes their new proposals will bring additional benefits to the area.

He said: “Apart from the new jobs and investment in the area, we will provide a great social hub and fantastic food and coffee choices, which should appeal to local people and their families as well as commuters using nearby Eskbank Railway Station.

“We hope members of the planning committee will see this development as a win-win situation for the area”.

Mr Wilson added that if the development gets the green light he would expect work to start in mid to late summer.