Three massive companies have announced that they will be opening units at the new DunBear Park in East Lothian.
The Dunbar retail park is under development and there are hopes that its construction will be able to stem the flow of revenue going to surrounding towns and the capital.
To help achieve this cause, Lidl, B&M and Starbucks have been given the go ahead to open stores by the planning committee of East Lothian Council on Tuesday November 1 2022.
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Starbucks are understood to be creating an outdoor seating area as well as a drive-thru service for those looking to get a tasty coffee.
The companies will not only bring investment and services into the area but they will also create hundreds of jobs for local residents in the area.
The multi-million pound development into the 54.3-acre “low carbon community” of DunBear Park will be undertaken by Hallhill Developments Ltd, with the centrepiece of the project being the DunBear sculpture.
The five-metre brown bear sculpture will pay tribute to one of Dunbar’s favourite sons, John Muir, who was known for playing a key role in establishing national parks in the States.
Hallhill are planning on creating a mixed-use development which will include offices, industrial retail as well as for community uses that will adopt the latest low carbon technology.
Locals responding to the community consultation on the project expressed their concerns around Dunbar failing to offer a variety of retail options which often meant that the area was losing out on the potential to capitalise on consumers.
They hope that by preventing expenditure leakage from the town and the surrounding area to other parts of East Lothian and Edinburgh it will also keep money in the community.
Infrastructure plans were already approached last year which will allow for roads and footpaths to be installed in the area.
Ken Ross from Hallhill Developments Ltd commented: “It was fantastic to see the committee approve these planning applications. At a time when many retailers are scaling back due to the fallout from the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, it is great to be able to deliver these national outlets for the community of Dunbar.
“These will serve to address the increased demand and provide greater competition, key themes that came from the community consultation exercise we undertook.
“Developments such as this complement Dunbar town centre, and through preventing retail leakage to elsewhere in East Lothian and Edinburgh will keep more money in the town.
“The multi-million pound investment will deliver around 100 much-needed new jobs for the local community, which is a clear vote of confidence in this location, and will also serve to deliver the necessary infrastructure to allow us to bring forward further investment into Dunbar.”
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