Pen-stroke puts Peebles under more population pressure

David Knox 1607 - 1607 • Published 26 Mar 2009 12:30 0 Comments

Share this

GOVERNMENT Ministers have opened the door for another house-building frenzy around Tweeddale.

Scottish Borders Council submitted its Draft Development Strategy last July highlighting strict restraints on the amount of future developments to be undertaken in Peeblesshire over the next decade.

But this week a modified version of the plan was published at Holyrood.

And a black pen has been drawn over the restrictions.

Almost 900 houses were built in Tweeddale over the past 10 years - seeing the population of the area swell by 15 per cent.

Infrastructure, such as schools, roads, car parks, hospitals and care provision, have struggled to cope.

The local authority had specified that no more than 250 properties, including 150 about-to-be-built affordable homes, should be erected in Peebles up to 2018, with only 250 new builds in Innerleithen, Walkerburn and West Linton combined.

MSP Jeremy Purvis believes the Government is sacrificing rural Peeblesshire for the capital"s gain.

He told us: 'It is with deep regret that the Scottish Government in Edinburgh seems to consider the bigger priority is to provide more support for the City of Edinburgh with regards to commuting housing rather than see the Borders Structure Plan, which is based on the needs and long term priorities of the region.

'This is astonishing as the consensus developed over the last few years is that the area has absorbed about as much private housing development as it could without the infrastructure, schools and health services being put under intolerable pressure.

"The proposed changes by the Government also put at risk the sensible position of the Council to look at development across all parts of the region, not just those within an hour"s drive of Edinburgh.

'This will give major concern to the communities in Peebles and West Linton that have seen major private housing growth in recent years.'

Local councillors fear that earmarked sites in Peebles - two at Glen Road and one Edderston Ridge - could be taken within three years of the Strategy being finalised if the decision isn"t over-turned.

And that even more land will have to be found for housing.

Catriona Bhatia said: 'We had hoped that just one site would be required to meet the Structure"s needs but we may now have to put in all three and possibly find more.

'This change is very much developer led. We are still addressing the shortfall in our infrastructure from the last housing boom without having to start all over again.

'I hope everyone will let the government know what they think of this.'

A consultation period will last for six weeks to allow for responses to be tabled.

Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre, spokeswoman for planning with the local authority, commented: 'They say they cannot restrict development in the wider Peebles area as we had intended.

'The council will have to respond to these statements and I expect there will be a hot debate on these matters.'

A spokesman at Holyrood said: 'The Scottish Government has proposed some modifications to the Borders Structure Plan to reflect national planning policies.

'We will consider all comments on the modifications before the final plan is approved.'

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 26 Mar 09

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Peeblesshire News Poll

Are you in favour of wind farms?

This Poll is now closed.

Yes (70.0%)

No (30.0%)

Follow @peeblesnews