East Lothian Council commissioned a sports hall feasibility study in June 2010 following feedback from the local community. The study identified that the existing centre had insufficient sport and leisure capacity to effectively serve the community.

Plans were developed in consultation with the centre’s management committee, users and the wider community to improve sports facilities.

Hadden Group was awarded the £1.094m contract to deliver the new sports hall extension to the centre. Work started on-site in October and is due to be completed by late July 2020.

The erection of the steel frame in place is a key milestone in the project’s delivery and gives the local community an indication of the size and scale of the extension. The firm recently completed the £1.4m Whitecraig Village Hub on behalf of East Lothian Council.

Cabinet member for community wellbeing, Councillor Jim Goodfellow, met with representatives from Hadden Group at the site to view the progress being made.

He said: “Port Seton Centre is a much-used and valued facility in the heart of this community and there has been a long-held desire to expand its footprint to increase leisure access. Our investment will support existing services and also allow new activities to be developed. I’m pleased to see the progress that has been made so far and look forward to watching it continue to take shape.”

Marlene Love from the Port Seton Community Centre management committee was also present.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to finally see the extension happening. It’s been needed for so long and it’s been a lot of work to make it happen, I’m so pleased to see it coming to fruition.”

Steven Brady, Hadden Group managing director, added: “We’re pleased to have been chosen to deliver this new sports facility for the Port Seton community which continues our excellent working relationship with East Lothian Council. Our construction team are progressing well with the build and we look forward to delivering a first-class community asset.”