A HOUSING developer is taking his fight to build on Venlaw Hill in Peebles to the Scottish Government.

S Carmichael Properties Ltd was refused permission by Scottish Borders Council to develop a 7.1 hectare site behind Edinburgh Road in October.

The planning permission in principle application attracted 84 letters of objection from concerned locals.

And both heritage and roads consultees also voiced concerns.

Scottish Borders Council planning officer Craig Miller stated: "The application site lies outwith the defined settlement boundary of Peebles and insufficient reasons have been given as to why an exceptional approval would be justified.

"Development would also create significant adverse landscape and visual impacts on a designated, prominent and sensitive rural edge of the town settlement boundary.

"It has also not been demonstrated that the development could be accessed safely on the A703 and at the junction with the proposed access road."

This week the developer submitted an appeal with the Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division.

An appointed Reporter will consider the appeal over the coming months.