Peeblesshire News | News | Local fury as Government overturns planning decision

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 18th January, 2008 10:40

Local fury as Government overturns planning decision

By David Knox

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REFUSAL to allow a major property development on the edge of Peebles has been overturned by the Scottish Government.

Taylor Wimpey’s bid to erect 214 houses at Whitehaugh was refused by Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee last summer.

Members cited density of the development on the 10-hectare site, as well as landscaping issues and not enough affordable properties, amongst their reasons.

But an appeal lodged with the government won favour this week.

Reporter Philip Hutchinson stated: “The council has indicated that its central concerns are over the capacity of the site for 214 units as opposed to the 180 units previously envisaged, and over the adequacy of landscaping, open space and boundary treatments.

“My first impression is that the overall density of about 21 units per hectare is not unreasonable.

“I have been presented with no council criticisms of any particular part of the landscaping schemes.”

The plans attracted more than 100 objections as well as concerns from the town’s community council.

And the finalized Local Plan for Peebles identified the site as suitable for only 106 properties.

Following the refusal last year a subsequent application for 199 houses, which included 41 affordable, was submitted.

The council’s planning committee approved the fresh bid with a list of 20 conditions to improve road safety, landscaping and use of a link road to a neighbouring housing scheme just before festive period.

But now the property company will have the choice of reverting back to its initial proposals for the edge-of-town site.

The Peeblesshire News was unable to gain a response from Taylor Wimpey this week about the reporter’s decision.

But local councilor Graham Garvie hopes they will stick to the revised plans. He said: “I have been trying to contact the company myself to see what their plans are.

“This whole situation is very odd and surprising. It’s very unsettling for an unelected member of the government to overturn a decision made by elected councilors sitting on a committee.”

This week’s decision by the reporter has also angered community council chairman Ian Wilson. He told us: “You have to wonder if this reporter understands the impact that 214 houses will have on our schools, health centre and roads.

“We know the land is zoned for housing, but the last reporter for the local plan gave us a figure of just over 100 – 214 is ridiculous.”

And councilor Catriona Bhatia, who was part of the planning committee that refused the original application, is furious about the potential loss of affordable units. She commented: “We are going from 41 affordable houses back to 33.

“I think planning decisions should rest with councilors and not reporters who do not seem to be consistent.

“We just have to hope that Taylor Wimpey decide to go with a development they can be proud of and will benefit Peebles. The decision will be theirs.”

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