The planning submission to East Lothian Council sets out detail of the plan to build on the existing Roodlands site in Haddington, with construction hoped to start in late 2016.

Some services will return to East Lothian as part of the development and it will bring an almost 60% increase in inpatient beds to the county.

David Small, chief officer, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “These are exciting plans which will see a modern and purpose-built hospital developed, helping improve the quality of care for people in East Lothian.

He added that NHS Lothian had been working with development partner Hub South East Scotland, which uses Graham or Galliford Try as preferred contractors.

Paul McGirk, Chief Executive of Hub South East Scotland, said: “Hub South East has been supporting NHS Lothian in the initial planning of this project and we are excited to reach another key milestone, allowing us to further progress the development, design and construction of this much needed facility for East Lothian.

The outline business case for the project is being devised in tandem with the planning submission and this will set out exact costs, hospital services and timescales.

The project team would anticipate submitting the outline business case for approval to the Scottish Government by early 2016.