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Plans for New House in Haddington Rejected by East Lothian Planners
Plans to construct a four-bedroom house in the garden of a property on Dunbar Road in Haddington have been rejected by East Lothian planners. The proposal was deemed “harmful and at odds” with the character of the area, as officials expressed concerns that the development would be “crammed” into the limited space available.
The application was submitted by Brian Watt, who has been utilising the current outbuildings on the site for a dog boarding business. Planners stated that the space was insufficient for the proposed house, which would replace these outbuildings.
In response to the rejection, Mr Watt has appealed the decision to the council’s local review body. His representatives argue that neighboring homes have already been established as infill housing, suggesting that the new house could be integrated similarly.
Mr Watt’s agents described the affected garden area as possessing a “largely working character” rather than high amenity value. They included details about the existing structures associated with the dog boarding business, as well as the landscape, which features artificial grass and gravel ground cover, offering limited ecological benefit.
They further contend that the proposed house would not be as confined as the neighbouring properties, which were also developed as infill housing, and assert that this new construction has the potential to blend in with the existing streetscape.
Planners, however, maintained that the proposed development would lack adequate back garden space. They highlighted that the size and positioning of the house would cause it to intrude into the restricted setting of the area, leading to a higher density than is typical for the Dunbar Road neighbourhood. This would result in a “crammed form of infill housing development,” which they deemed inappropriate for the locality.
The appeal is scheduled to be reviewed by the council’s local review body later this month.
