COUNCILLORS have this week approved contentious plans to transform part of a Peeblesshire mansion and its 25-acre estate into a wedding venue – despite local objections.

The unanimous endorsement of the change of use application for Hartree House – a mile south of Biggar – was welcomed by Mike Goddard who, with wife Stephanie, bought the 18th century pile as a family home in 2008.

The couple have since spent around £1.5m renovating the property and grounds.

“My wife and I are delighted to have been given the opportunity to share Hartree House with wedding parties,” Mr Goddard told the Peeblesshire News after Monday’s meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee at Newtown.

“We have spent the past few years bringing the house back to its former glory and it will give us great pleasure to offer it to couples for their wedding venue.”

Earlier Mr Goddard had addressed councillors on his aspirations for Hartree House which, until 2000, operated as a hotel and was “in very poor condition” when he purchased it.

He proposed that the venue should host up to 15 wedding events a year in teepees erected on the extensive front lawn.

Although the main part of the house would remain private, accommodation for guests would be provided in a penthouse and neighbouring lodge, while temporary chemical toilets would be installed for each event.

The change of use would, he contended, boost the local economy with caterers being required to use locally sourced produced whenever possible and with serving staff recruited from the local area. Wedding guests not resident at Hartree House would bring additional custom to accommodation providers in the Biggar/Peebles area.

However, the Goddards’ proposal elicited eight objections from residents in five nearby properties.

And on Monday three of these dissenters – Alan France, Martin Purves and Graham Dobbie – outlined their concerns to councillors.

They claimed that noise from the teepees and the lodge would have an adverse impact on residential amenity and that the road access to Hartree House would result in additional traffic in the neighbouring residential development at Hartree Square.

The risk of flooding and issues relating to water supply, foul and surface water drainage would, it was claimed, be exacerbated by the proposal.

But, as outlined in these columns last week, in her report to the committee, local planning officer Dororthy Amyes, who has since retired from the council, recommended that the bid be approved.

And in endorsing the application after a lengthy discussion, councillors agreed to attach of range of binding conditions to the consent which has been granted for a two-year trial period.

Only wedding events may be held at Hartree House, up to a maximum of 15 a year.

The sound system within the teepees must be approved in advance by SBC environmental health officers and no amplified music will be played after midnight. No fireworks or Chinese lantern will be permitted.

And all traffic associated with a wedding event must only use the main drive to the house and not the route through Hartlee Square.