More growth on the way as part of former industrial landscape’s transformation

September 26, 2023

A six-month contract has been awarded to one of Scotland’s leading soft landscaping firms as part of the ongoing creation of a sustainable new town in East Lothian that will house 1,600 families.

With a focus on both biodiversity and wellbeing, P1 Contractors has started the seeding and planting for verges and woodland at Blindwells which already has over 150 new homes occupied.

The contract, which is worth around half a million pounds, represents a key step for Hargreaves Land, the creator of Blindwells, in its vision to construct an attractive landscape for the former mine, rich in habitat for native species, with an abundance of greenery for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.

P1 Contractors will be on site until next April, initially working on phase three of the soft landscaping works, which will frame the two boulevards that lead to the new primary school, before moving on to residential plot five, which occupies a prominent 20-acre position with stunning views of the Firth of Forth.

In addition to the 25,000 trees already introduced at Blindwells, further woodland planting will take place in the area skirted by the A1 trunk road, while two permanent play parks are also due to take shape.

Scott Waite, head of project management at Hargreaves Land said: “P1 Contractors has become an instrumental partner over recent months in helping us realise our plans to regenerate this brownfield land into a thriving community with a beautiful backdrop against which hundreds of local families will build their lives.”

Richard McMonagie, director at P1 Contractors, added: “We are delighted to have agreed the next contract with Hargreaves Land for the landscaping of the next phase of their Blindwells development following the successful completion of the first two phases.

“It is refreshing to work with a client that puts so much emphasis on the green infrastructure of a project and we look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with the team at Hargreaves.”