An empty unit at a new retail park could be turned into a pharmacy after original plans for a cafe were dropped.
Owners of Haddington Retail Park, on the west of the East Lothian town, said attempts to find a business to take on the cafe/takeaway unit had failed to find a tenant. However Epic said interest had been shown in opening a chemist in the small unit and has applied to council planners to change the use of it from Class 3 to Class 1 to allow the new retail service.
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Agents for the owners said: "Despite extensive marketing it has not been possible to find a Class 3 occupier for the unit, however, interest has been shown in a pharmacy use (Class 1). There is a significant growing population on the western side of Haddington and there is a high demand for service facilities such as pharmacies.
"The development at Haddington Retail Park was in part considered to fulfil the role of a ‘local centre’ for the western part of Haddington and such a use would be consistent with that role."
The retail park at Gateside in the town opened last year with new Aldi, Home Bargains and Food Warehouse stores as well as a Costa drive-thru. Last month a Shell petrol station also opened on the site but the smaller retail unit set aside for a cafe/takeaway remained empty.
The arrival of a Starbuck's drive-thru next door to the site earlier this year added to facilities available to visitors. The application for the change of use is available to view on the East Lothian Council planning portal.
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