PLANNERS have given the go ahead for two separate housing developments in the Peebles area.

They have agreed to allow the building of 30 new homes on land beneath Peebles Hydro.

And they have approved plans for 20 houses on land near the entrance to the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel.

Members of Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee accepted the advice of officers that the development near Peebles Hydro should be approved.

The pension fund behind the development originally want to erect 13 houses and 21 apartments at the site which is currently used as the Hydro’s pitch and putt golf course.

Officers were satisfied with revised plans that reduced the number of flats to 17 and removed upper bay windows from the apartment blocks.

The site sits within the Peebles Conservation Area and the Peebles Civic Society and the town’s community council were among a number of objectors to the plans.

The development at Cardrona was approved despite more than 10 objections being made. Renwick Country Properties are proposing to build the 20 houses on a 0.8 hectare site just off the A72.

Principal planning officer Craig Miller said the site was located in a sensitive and prominent position in the Tweed Valley.

He added: “It is essential that the development is of appropriate design, layout and with sympathetic landscape proposals to allow successful integration into the setting.”