Objectors have described a fresh bid to build holiday let homes next to a tiny rural community in East Lothian as ‘ludicrous’ amid claims they should not be seen as new houses.
The application to create two new three bedroom houses at Liberty Hall, outside Haddington, was thrown out earlier this year after planners ruled it was against council policy which restricts new builds in the countryside.
However it returned to the council’s planning committee this week after councillor Liz Allan called it in saying the councillors should consider changes to the plans.
Officers however told committee members the only difference in the new application compared to the one rejected by them was the addition of a supporting statement and a new agent and they said their opinion had not changed adding ‘these are still houses’.
Agent Tony Thomas, for applicant M&C Fielding Developments Ltd argued the new properties should be considered as short term holiday lets rather than residential housing.
He said the application was compliant with policies surrounding building in the countryside and tourism arguing the proposed house designs were ‘far and away’ better than the cabins or lodges presented for other holiday accommodation.
He told the committee: “These are not houses in the countryside, you can’t live in them which is the very definition of a house.
“We are not proposing a residential development and a legal agreement would be imposed to ensure the properties remain holiday lets.”
Mr Thomas said he had tried to lodge the application as class seven accommodation which covers hotels, guest houses and hostels, but planners had refused to validate it under that so he had ‘reluctantly’ applied under housing class.
Residents living at Liberty Hall had objected to the original application which was rejected in March this year saying when occupied the new homes would more than double the community’s population.
And they returned to committee 140 days after the previous application was heard to restate their case.
Local resident John Dixon told the meeting: “This is exactly the same proposal as the last one, absolutely nothing has changed. The development is two new houses in the countryside and it is totally irrelevant if they are used for permanent accommodation or holiday lets.”
Fellow resident Chris Edwards said: “It feels insane to me that we are discussing what is a house and what is not a house. These have front doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms. Even on the plans there is a study which seems a bit odd to me for holiday accommodation.
“The applicants argument that we should just focus on the fact these are tourist accommodation and ignore the fact houses will have to be built is just ludicrous to me.”
Councillor Liz Allan, who called in the application which was recommended for refusal by planning officers, said she was concerned that there was a gap in policy which meant holiday accommodation could not be considered differently on this occasion.
She said: “The fact it looks like a house is a concern but we have so many other things we might recognise, caravans, pubs lodges that might look a little different and be easier to identify as a holiday home.
“I think there is a gap in policy that may be something for the Scottish Government.”
Planning convenor Norman Hampshire said it was clear that while the homes may be built as holiday accommodation there was no way to legislate to make sure they did not change into residential houses in the future.
He said: “Somebody could move in there and say I am no longer going to use it for that purpose I am going to make it my home and we would not be able to enforce it. They could say the business is no longer viable and we would have to allow the change.
“We are all aware of incidents where that has happened and we have a duty to protect our countryside.”
The committee voted unanimously to refuse the application.
By Mare Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
