An appeal has been launched over twice-rejected plans to build 20 holiday chalets on the fringe of the Pentlands.
The latest plans for open countryside south of Kirknewton went before councillors in June.
Lawyer Ewan MacLeod of Shepherd and Wedderburn, acting on behalf of a concerned neighbour to the site, had urged the Development Management Committee (DMC) to refuse to consider the plans, claiming they had not substantially changed from the one that was refused in 2024.
Mr MacLeod said that if the DMC did consider and reject the plan in June: “the applicant can appeal to Scottish ministers, and an unelected Scottish Government official can then take a decision which may overturn the democratic will of this committee… If you decline to determine the application the applicant has no appeal.”
The DMC was notified this week that Lucy Crombie’s application to build 20 wooden holiday lodges on a site known as the Paddocks has gone to appeal with the Division of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA).
The area of open countryside borders Leyden Road, a narrow, winding and rural road bounded by farm and woodland which climbs from Kirknewton up to the main A70 road – known as the Lang Whang- which skirts the Pentland Hills regional park.
Councillors dismissed the resubmitted plans at the June meeting of the local planning committee for much the same reasons as they had done the year before.
There were concerns, from both councillors and planners about the holiday park, and the “urban” style of the development, poor road access, and lack of safe footpath access from Kirknewton.
Councillors also believed the development would encourage heavier traffic on the narrow road.
An agent for the developer said his client was prepared to address road and access issues by widening the road.
The application attracted 22 objections including one from the local community council and a neighbour, Juliet Bentley who lives in the B- listed Ormiston Castle immediately adjacent to the site.
Mr MacLeod acting for Ms Bentley, told councillors in June: “Both we and our client are surprised that the application has been made to the council. It is identical in all material respects to [the previous] application.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
