Two major retailers have been announced for DunBear Park, Dunbar (14th October 2021).
A detailed planning application has been submitted to East Lothian Council for Lidl (1,996 sq. m.) and B&M (2,218 sq. m.) stores at DunBear Park, as well as essential road infrastructure (planning application reference: 21/01289/P).
These are located side-by-side and set to create up to 80 new jobs for Dunbar should planning permission be granted. With accompanying site infrastructure, this is set to deliver a £30 million package of investment in the town.
The proposed 54.3-acre low carbon community of DunBear Park is designed around The DunBear. This five-metre-high steel sculpture of a brown bear pays tribute to John Muir, the Dunbar-born naturalist who played a key role in the establishment of National Parks in the USA.
The exciting mixed-use development aims to include office, industrial, retail, leisure, extra care facilities, and community and residential uses, adopting the latest low carbon technology.
DunBear Park is part of the Hallhill development, being undertaken by Hallhill Developments Limited (HDL). The joint application between HDL, Lidl and B&M follows planning applications submitted last year for roads, footpaths and essential infrastructure, together with renewable energy proposals.
One of the key outcomes of the community consultation event for the DunBear Park development was a clear desire by the community for a far greater retail offering in Dunbar, serving to address increased demand and providing greater competition.
Artist’s impression of the proposed B&M store, with the Lidl store in the background
There are discount retailers in all the major towns in East Lothian, except Dunbar. Unsustainable travel is therefore occurring, with residents of the town and surrounding area shopping elsewhere, with the clear environmental impacts this has.
By preventing expenditure leakage from the town and the local area to other parts of East Lothian and Edinburgh it will also keep money in the community. Hallhill Developments have committed to work with local community groups, including the Dunbar Traders Association, to deliver onsite signage, pushing people to visit the town centre.
Development onsite also serves to financially pump prime infrastructure to deliver further employment uses on the site. New infrastructure has to be installed at significant costs and this early phase of development on the DunBear site makes it more likely that future employment-generating development will occur.
The proposed road layout for the development provides a through route east to west across the site. Safe and direct pedestrian and cycle routes are included within the proposals and will continue to be refined.
Indicative masterplan highlighting the Lidl and B&M stores
DunBear Park aims to be a highly sustainable development, adopting the latest low carbon technology to generate renewable power on site. Powered by its own green electricity supply, fed from solar panels and battery storage, this will reduce the need for fossils fuels and thereby lessen carbon emissions, supporting the green recovery from Covid-19.
Ken Ross from Hallhill Developments Limited commented:
“At a time when retailers are scaling back due to the pandemic, it is great to be able to announce that these operators will be coming to DunBear Park. This will address the increased demand and provide greater competition, key themes that came from the community consultation exercise we undertook.
“This £30 million investment will deliver up to 80 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.”
Philip Mellor from the Dunbar Trades’ Association commented:
“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.
“In order to maximise the potential of these exciting developments, we will be working with the developer to establish ways to promote and use appropriate signage. This will attract people who are visiting these outlets and/or the fantastic DunBear sculpture to the town centre.
“This is a win-win situation for Dunbar.”
Notes to Editors
About DunBear Park
DunBear Park is a proposed low carbon community, located in the East Lothian town of Dunbar, renowned for being Scotland’s sunniest place.
This mixed-use development covers 54.3 acres and is designed around the magnificent steel sculpture of a brown bear, The DunBear.
DunBear Park aims to adopt the latest low carbon technology, supporting the delivery of an exemplar low carbon community.
It will aim to include office, industrial, retail, leisure and community uses. The development is also proposed to include worker housing, subject to further consultation with East Lothian Council.
DunBear Park is part of the more than 400-acre Hallhill development and is being undertaken by the landowner, Hallhill Developments Ltd. Located adjacent to the A1 at Dunbar, DunBear Park includes The DunBear sculpture, after which it is named.
Depicting a brown bear, The DunBear is five metres high and is a tribute to John Muir, the pioneering Dunbar-born naturalist and conservationist, who played a key role in the establishment of National Parks in the USA. Created by renowned Scottish sculptor, Andy Scott, it was named by a pupil at Dunbar Grammar School.
DunBear Park is an extremely well-connected community. Offering an unrivalled quality of life, it is the ideal place to work, live and play.
For further information, please go to: www.dunbearpark.com/planning