A COUNCIL planning committee has unanimously backed a bid to use land in a ‘special’ Peebles area to build a house.

The application, submitted back in July, relates to “overgrown” garden land north of The Croft, on Chambers Terrace.

The site sits within one of the Borders’ conservation areas, zones designated by the council as having “special architectural or historic interest”.

The bid for planning permission in principle attracted opposition on a number of potential issues including privacy, impact on trees, increased traffic and pedestrian safety.

But this week, elected members on Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) planning and building standards committee were united in supporting the plans.

Tweeddale East councillor Marshall Douglas, of the SNP, said: “Bearing in mind that this is only the initial application and we don’t have full details of the intended property there, I don’t see too many problems with it, as long as the junction is improved and the high value trees are maintained.

“I think the site itself is suitable for a building of a proper quality.”

The meeting heard how the garden ground cannot be seen from any public roads and that there are listed buildings in the area.

Five ‘high value’ mature lime trees in and around the site would be retained but ‘lower category’ trees would be removed, according to SBC papers.

Eric Small, a Conservtaive Tweeddale West councillor, said: “I think we need a properly designed property to fit in with the listed buildings around.

“Looking at the site, it looks overgrown. I think a house will sit nicely there.”

The meeting heard that The Croft property is on the market but that a future sale would not impact any planning permission at the site.

Tweeddale West councillor Viv Thomson, of the SNP, said: “I think, with the appropriate conditions, that this could be a good site to build a house.

“I do understand people’s concerns with it being in a conservation area with listed buildings round about…but when the main design comes back it will have to give every detail, so yes to planning in principle but I think the next part is going to be the difficult bit.”

Kate Jenkins, of agents Ericht Planning, addressed the councillors on behalf of applicant Alistair Grandison at the start of the meeting.

She said that a “high quality” final design of the house would ensure there was “no detrimental impact on the conservation area”.

“As is normal, the permission would be subject to a further detailed application to address the proposed conditions including architectural drawings showing the size, height, materials, exact siting and full design, including window locations, of the house, together with its parking and drainage,” said Mrs Jenkins.

“This detail would be rigorously assessed by the planning authority and third parties who wish to comment would be able to do so.”