Ahead of the first residents moving into their idyllic new surroundings, the Blindwells team is hard at work consulting with the brands and providers that will make the new town centre a relaxing yet vibrant part of the East Lothian landscape.

Hargreaves Land, the developer behind the scheme, which combines 1,600 homes with education and healthcare facilities, as well as retail and leisure opportunities, is working with Scotland’s leading retail and leisure agency Culverwell to design a modern and sustainable urban environment in which businesses can thrive.

Senior partner Alex Culverwell, who founded the business in 1989, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in helping to shape a newly-created urban environment, and to use our experience to create a design for the town centre that works for a diverse range of commercial operators.  Feedback from the market is good with the anticipation of the housing and the new primary school being delivered.

“We’ve been liaising with retailers and leisure operators for over a year now, and researching their requirements, so we’re looking forward to seeing some speciality brands commit to Blindwells, to see local firms born and grow, and to allow the town centre to take shape around its community and their needs.”

Bellway and Cruden are currently on site, Persimmon are in for planning for 197 homes and plan to start in the near future and news regarding the fourth housing site to be released to the market, will be issued shortly. The first completed homes are on course to be delivered by Bellway later this year as part of the first phase of their Prince’s Gate scheme.

Hargreaves Land development director, Bruce Lindsay, said: “As well as meeting a housing need by providing homes for thousands of people within easy access of Edinburgh city centre, Blindwells will be a brand new community in the form of a sustainable town centre and we are delighted to be working with Alex Culverwell and his team to make the commercial elements a success.   The wider vision is to create a community in which local people can build businesses and families on the beautiful outskirts of Edinburgh.”