Working with delivery partner Hub South East, East Lothian Council has appointed Balfour Beatty to the projects which are being undertaken at the same time to offer cost and time efficiencies.

Works at the Cockenzie site are due to start in September 2024. The new road will link the Alder Road junction on the B6371 approach to Cockenzie with the existing B1348 road. Much of the route will follow an existing service road to the former coal plant and be complemented by a lane, largely set back from the main roadway, to encourage safe walking and cycling. Construction is expected to be completed in August 2025. Enabling works will be carried out in phases during this same period.

East Lothian Council representatives met Lothian East new MP Douglas Alexander at the former Cockenzie Power Station site earlier this month, where he heard about progress on the site to develop it for economic use ahead of works beginning.

Council leader Councillor Norman Hampshire, said: “This is a huge step forward in realising the council’s ambition to make this site attractive to commercial businesses to locate here. The site was purchased in 2018 and a vision was developed to create employment opportunities as well as enhancing the site for the benefit of the local community. That remains our vision but there has been a lot of necessary site evaluation, planning and now remedial work that needed to be completed first. It is a very exciting time as we move into this next phase of development on a key site in East Lothian and it was great to be able to share that progress with our new MP Douglas Alexander.”

“We also talked about the enormous amount of progress being made at our new town at Blindwells which will attract investment and jobs to East Lothian.”

Cllr Hampshire and Mr Alexander visited the site with chief executive Monica Patterson, depute council leader Shamin Akhtar and senior council officers.

Mr Alexander said: “I’m grateful to Norman, Shamin, Monica and the other council officials for organising this site visit and providing me with a progress update. It’s such an important site for the local economy and jobs, and I welcomed this early opportunity to discuss plans for developing the site and maximising its potential.”

The first phase of the enabling works will involve transferring earth from the bunds surrounding the former coal store, across the Edinburgh Road to infill the void in the power station site. This will create a level platform for further development. This phase of the works is due to be completed in spring 2025.

The second phase will involve the removal of the largest bund on the coal store site and the demolition of concrete structures on the site. That cannot start until spring 2025 following the completion of bat surveys and the implementation of any replacement habitat that may be required as a result of the surveys.

Greig Jamieson, commercial director with Hub South East, the council’s development partner, commented: “We have a successful partnership spanning more than a decade with East Lothian Council and we’re proud to be entrusted with its latest project in Cockenzie, supporting the transformation of the site for future redevelopment, ultimately enabling growth and benefiting the local economy.

“We’re excited that work will soon begin on the ground and we look forward to assisting the council with future phases as the development progresses.”

The enabling works are 90% funded by UK Government and 10% by East Lothian Council with the link road 100% funded by East Lothian Council.

All estimated start dates are provisional and are subject to a number of planning conditions being satisfied before works can commence.