An award-winning architects firm has slammed planners for refusing an extension to a former serviceman’s cottage in East Lothian saying they should be ‘praised’ for their design.
The proposals for the rural home at Newmains Holdings, near Athelstaneford, were rejected after planning officers said they would almost double to footprint of the property.
But while they criticised the size of the extension and plans to include a flat roof and attach it to an outbuilding, Edinburgh-based designers WT Architecture hit back saying the changes to the bungalow are “exactly the type of development that East Lothian Council should be encouraging”>
And they claimed the planned changes were better than any which had been introduced to other properties in the rural cluster of homes.
Appealing to the council’s Local Review Body, the architects said: “This proposed scheme represents the most high-quality, contextual and sensitive architectural intervention ever put forward for any of the properties along Newmains Holdings, and will significantly enhance the character of the existing buildings and area.
“The proposed development will adapt and revitalise a group of unsustainable existing buildings, significantly reducing their environmental impact and extending their lifespans, creating a quality home for a young family.
” We believe the merits of this application are clear and believe that the application is not merely acceptable, but should be actively supported and praised as an exemplary architectural addition to this part of East Lothian.”
The cottages at Newmains Holdings were built post WW2 to provide homes to former servicemen in the area.
Refusing to grant planning permission for the extension, the council’s officers said the addition which would run from the existing house to an outbuilding would create a “large, dominant dwellinghouse which would be visible from the public road that would not be reflective of the architectural character or style of the dwellinghouses at Newmains Holdings”
The said: “Consequently the proposed flat roofed extension would be harmful to the character and appearance of the house and to the character and appearance of the area.”
The appeal will be heard at a meeting of the council’s Local Review Body next month.
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.
