The owners of an historic East Lothian house have been given the go ahead to build a log cabin in their woods as long as it is only used by residents.
Yester House owners applied for permission to build the two storey cabin in the woods of the 17th century Category A listed property for use by themselves and guests at ‘informal family events’.
East Lothian Council planners agreed to permit the additional accommodation at the estate, which is at Gifford, but included a condition barring it from being used commercially in the future.
In their report on the application, planning officers said: “The application is accompanied by a supporting statement which states that the log cabin
building would be for the private use of the owners of the estate and also used for guest accommodation and informal family events. It states that the log cabin building is not for commercial use.”
They go on to add: “The applicant’s agent has confirmed, in writing, that the proposed log cabin building would be used for domestic use only and that it will not form a separate dwelling or be used for any trade or commercial use.
“It is on these terms that the application stands to be determined and thus in the interests of safeguarding the character and amenity of the locality, it should be made a condition of a grant of planning permission that the log cabin building be used solely for purposes incidental to the use and enjoyment of the house of Yester House and that it shall not at any time be used as a
separate dwelling or for any business, trade or other commercial use.”
Yester House dates back to in the late 17th century and its gardens listed in the Inventory of Garden and Designed Landscapes in Scotland as of national significance.
Past owners include the Marquesses of Tweeddale and world-renowned Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti. In recent years it was taken over by a new family who have worked restoring the house and grounds.
It is now a weddings venue as well as hosting community events and education trips on its 550-acre estate.
Planners approved the application for the log cabin, which will be built in the woodlands on an area of land with no trees on it.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
