A BID to demolish mill buildings in the middle of Peebles to make way for a housing development has been turned down by the Scottish Government's appeals division.

Moorbrook Textiles wanted to erect 69 new houses on the former March Street Mills site.

Scottish Borders Council was considering the application, and due to the level of local opposition decided a site visit was necessary towards the end of last year.

Due to the delays, Moorbrook opted to use the appeals process.

This week reporter Chris Norman rejected the appeal for planning permission in principle to be granted as well as a separate application for conservation area consent.

Although Mr Norman was sympathetic to the building proposals he found against the Moorbrook proposals to relocate the town's allotments to a smaller area of land.

He stated: "I find that the proposed relocation site does not favourably compare with the existing allotment site and would not be an acceptable and adequate replacement."

Mr Norman was likewise unconvinced by the demolition proposals in the conservation area consent submission.

He added: "I conclude the demolition of the vacant mill buildings would not preserve or enhance the character or appearance of Peebles Conservation Area."