Residents anger as traditional cottage set to be demolished

Residents in an East Lothian village have reacted with anger over plans to replace a traditional cottage with a large house which will block their views of historic hills.

Plans to demolish Briar Cottage, which sits on the edge of Gullane Golf Club, and replace it with a home more ‘in keeping’ with modern houses which have been built on the street, have alarmed residents living behind the one way street.

They fear the cottage, which is in a dilapidated state, will be replaced with a much larger home, similar to one next door which replaced another cottage a decade ago.

And they say the higher building are blocking their views across the golf course to the Lammermuir Hills.

One resident said: “After Aros Cottage was replaced with a huge house we have been watching the cottage next door fall into disrepair with concern, and now plans have been lodged to tear it down and build a new home, our fears have proved correct.

“These cottages were part of Gullane’s history but are being replaced with expensive big houses which we would never expect to be allowed in a conservation area.

“When you buy in a conservation village you expect things to stay they same. We don’t expect our views to be blocked out by large new development.”

Plans for a new house on the site of the cottage say they will “demolish an existing dilapidated cottage and replace it with a new house of traditional form that is better suited to the size and its presentation onto Templar Place”.

It adds that the cottage was once a “a simple country cottage” before neighbouring homes were built around it adding “the new house has been designed to sit comfortably into the surrounding houses by tying in with the
ridge and eaves heights”,

On social media opinions were split over the new house with a number of residents remembering the cottage from their own childhood and criticising the newer neighbouring properties.

One said: “A lovely little cottage spoiled by an enormous house built next door which is not in keeping with the surrounding houses.”

While another added: “What’s wrong with a tasteful renovation that retains the beauty of this charming little property.”

And a third said: “Should not be allowed to demolish another building with history to put money in pockets of those and such.”

However some support for the new proposals was also added with one person saying: “It’s a pretty ugly building compared to many in the village so why not replace it with something more attractive, like the one next door. A beautiful new property with a huge amount of character”.

Plans for demolition and the new house are on East Lothian planning portal.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter