Stag and hen parties are off the list at luxury Borders retreat
A stunning luxury Airbnb countryside retreat in a Scottish Borders village has received retrospective planning approval after the applicant made assurances that stag and hen parties were off the guest list.
Earlier this year business executive Nicola Williams launched the exclusive residence at The Grange in Heriot, which had been her former home for more than a decade.
The property itself extends to some 9,000 square feet across three levels, accommodating up to 12 guests across six bedrooms.
Its facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna, two hot tubs, gym, private cinema, various public rooms and eight bathrooms.
Within the gated grounds are landscaped gardens, a five-a-side football pitch, a children’s play park and secure parking.
The property has been designed to host leadership strategy sessions, board retreats, writers’ residencies, wellness experiences and private celebrations.
The current advertised nightly rate is £1,300-£1,400.
Now approval has been granted from Scottish Borders Council for change of use from a dwelling house to Short Term Lets (STL).
One objection to the application was submitted by a neighbour amid concern over loss of a family residence in the close-knit community and noise implications.
Heriot Community Council did not raise a specific objection but also called for a “degree of rigour and scrutiny” to ensure restrictions on both noise levels and hen and stag gatherings.
SBC lead planning officer Carlos Clarke said: “While the use of this house as a STL could potentially lead to significant impacts on neighbouring amenity and the character of the group, that will fundamentally depend on the behaviour of the visitors themselves, and the management of that behaviour by the owner/operator.
“The applicants clearly are taking steps to direct users away from neighbours; and to instruct them to respect the amenity of those neighbours.”
Anyone letting the venue is prohibited from having house parties or stag/hen parties and a report in support of the application stated that the property has operated successfully for more than two months.
It adds: “Over this operating period there has not been a single complaint relating to the STL use of the property from any neighbouring property or other concerning either noise, disturbance, guest behaviour, access, parking, privacy or other amenity effects.
“Guest bookings are only accepted in the absence of any prior negative reviews or feedback. Where an enquiring guest does not have immaculate feedback or references, the booking is declined. As a luxury retreat and accommodation venue, we operate a strict zero-tolerance approach to excessive noise, anti-social behaviour and any activity that may negatively impact neighbouring properties or the wider community.”