Picture this: a master plan to erect 10 vibrant units off the illustrious Masons Way, a beacon of commerce rising up in the ever-expanding realm of Wallyford. Yes, a full ten units—a number that’s practically bursting at the seams with possibility, or perhaps just bursting, period.
Now, the mystery of the missing business names has become the stuff of legend. Will it be the next great convenience store, a chic coffee haven, or possibly the world’s first barbershop-pizza joint? Who knows! According to documents fluttering through the hallowed halls of East Lothian Council, we could see an eclectic mix, but can we guarantee any of it? No! It’s like a lottery, but instead of cash, you might win an artisanal fish-and-chip shop.
One particularly ambitious document states, “The occupier sectors in discussion to date are convenience, coffee, pharmacy, barbers, pizza, fish and chips (sit-in with ancillary takeaway) and those mentioned above with other support retail uses.” In layman’s terms: “The sky’s the limit, folks! Maybe we’ll even throw in a pet psychic on Thursdays!”
The pièce de résistance? The “anchor” unit standing proud at a whopping 465.5 square meters—because who doesn’t want to be weighed down by vast real estate in a village setting? The remaining nine units, designed by the folks at McTaggart Construction, flaunt sizes ranging from 57.8m² to 116.1m². That’s right, we’re aiming for maximum variety—with the sole hope that at least one of them ends up being a quirky cat cafe.
Previously, there was a grand plan for just seven units. But alas, the world of commerce is a fickle mistress, and that layout “is no longer commercially viable.” Hello, larger-than-life dreams and goodbye to feasible projects. Instead, we now have a new layout that promises “hot food takeaway” as 25% of the overall floorspace, because nothing says community togetherness like standing in line for a lukewarm pizza slice.
The developers smell the sweet scent of sustainability in the air, with a bold declaration that this project will meet the “retail needs of the existing and expanding settlement of Wallyford.” And really, who wouldn’t want to support local businesses amid this veritable treasure trove of sizes? The new and “improved” units designed to cater to local demand feel like an elaborate escape room—great intentions but slightly impractical decor.
As hundreds of new homes spring up like mushrooms after a rainstorm, the village is bursting at the seams. But worry not! A shiny new primary and secondary school for over 800 children has also been erected to ensure future generations can at least be schooled in the fine art of locating the nearest convenience store in a garden of takeaways, barber shops, and eccentric retail. Who said suburbia was boring?
