A COMMUNITY organisation in Peebles is calling into question a local authority paper on the future of the region's housing.

The Main Issues Report, which has identified housing sites in and around the Royal Burgh, has caused controversy since its recent publication.

And Peebles Civic Society is convinced that if the proposals were to come to fruition they would severely damage the town.

In its response to the Main Issues Report, which aims to shape the 2021 five-year Local Development Plan, the Society highlights that the proposals fail to address the current situation in Peebles and Eshiels, and contradicts both the current Strategic Development Plan (SESPlan) for Edinburgh and South-East Scotland and the council’s own Local Development Plan (LDP).

According to the live SESPlan, Peebles has been subject to 'significant development pressure' through new housing that will need 'to be distributed over a wider area' while that current LDP identifies the need to spread housing development beyond Peebles into the other main settlements in Tweeddale in order to 'achieve a greater social cohesion and manage pressure on key services and facilities'.

But the Main Issues Report, which is currently being consulted upon, outlines a total of 792 new homes on seven sites in Peebles and Eshiels.

With planning applications for a total of 396 houses already in the pipeline it could means that 1,188 new properties being built in Peebles and Eshiels by 2026.

Members of the Civic Society, in their official response, also highlight the proposed imbalance with other parts of the Borders.

The 792 houses identified for Peebles compares with an anticipated increase of 1,289 houses in the whole of the Scottish Borders area by the same year, according to the statement in the Socio Demographics section of the report.

A spokesman for Peebles Civic Society said: "The contrast between Peebles and the neighbouring Eildon Locality area, which includes Galashiels, Melrose and Selkirk is startling.

"Under the “preferred option' list of housing sites Eildon has 2.9 hectares providing 40 houses compared with the Tweeddale Locality Preferred Option which lists 41.2 hectares and some 450 homes.

“We note that the MIR does not mention any Longer Term housing developments in the Eildon Locality, in the Peebles area Tweeddale Locality we calculate some 570.

"We feel that the total number of houses projected in the area of Peebles and Eshiels is over demanding and causing us considerable concerns.

“Peebles appears to be the only major town under pressure from developers due to its proximity to Edinburgh.

"The MIR is placing Peebles under pressure to satisfy the housing need for the Scottish Borders.”

The society has also highlighted statements in MIR that it believes state provision should be made to satisfy the demands of developers irrespective of the needs of Peebles.

There is also criticism of the consultants engaged to identify possible housing sites, many of which the Society believes are unsuitable because of a range of problems including access, flood risk and traffic increases.

And they have also raised concerns of the capacity of schools and health services to cope with so many extra houses.

The spokesman added: "The Main Issues Report does not respect the issues of the town of Peebles and the surrounding community of Eshiels.

“Peebles is an attractive town and the proposals in the Main Issues Report for additional housing both in the short term and long term will cause damage to the town unless we have a long term plan addressing all issues.”