Go-ahead given for Bonchester Bridge home after appeal review

Jamie Reddihough had his proposals for a house and stand-alone garages on land at Town o’ Rule Farm rejected by Scottish Borders Council planners in November as they felt its design would not sit well with existing buildings there or comply with planning policies.

Mr Reddihough, a director of Rule Valley Simulated Game near Denholm, appealed against that refusal, and the authority’s local review body overturned that thumbs-down at a meeting held via video-call on Monday.

Dismissing concerns over the six-bedroom home’s scale and suitability, Kelso councillor Simon Mountford moved to give the plans the go-ahead.

“The principle of having a residential building there has been accepted by a previous permission in principle, albeit that having lapsed,” he said.

“The question is whether this is the right building.

“I think this house will be high quality, eco-friendly and actually a positive contribution to the area.”

Planning permission in principle had previously been granted for the site in 2015.

Mr Mountford added: “Is the mass of the building going to be over-dominant?

“My view on that is no. It will be bigger than surrounding buildings but it’s not uncommon in a farm setting for the farmhouse to be bigger than surrounding buildings.

“The land form, though, means that the ridge height will not be breaking the skyline so the house will form nicely into the countryside.”

Members previously discussed the appeal in March, but held off making a decision until a bat survey had been assessed by officers.

Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton added: “The extra information we asked for on the bats was necessary for us to make a decision here, and I’m pleased to see the report back from the officers saying eveything could be mitigated and that they have no issues with this.

“I agree with concerns over the size and height of the house but mitigating planning and screening would help.

“It’s always very difficult when you try to go from one design to another, and obviously some buildings are going to be retained and others built in a new design with a different character.”

Tweeddale West councillor Eric Small agreed, saying: “I think it’s a fair size of building but it’s going to be eco-friendly and I’m in favour. I don’t see any problem with what they’re intending to do.”

Consideration was given, though, to whether a condition should be imposed stipulating that the building can only be put to residential use.

“There was concern given the size of the home and garaging there that there might be an intention to use the building for some form of business use, but going by the design and layout of the building, apart from its size, there is nothing to suggest any plans to include a business use,” principal planning officer Craig Miller said.

Members agreed it would be an overcomplication to attach any extra conditions to restrict it to domestic only.

“The applicant doesn’t currently live in the Borders and wants to move here because he has extensive interests in the Borders and wants to be able to manage them from this home,” Mr Mountford added.

“If we restrict this to private and domestic use, does that prevent him using the new house as a corporate headquarters, for want of a better description, or a place where he can manage other business interests?”

A motion to uphold refusal of the application by East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing failed to attract support and, going against officers’ recommendations, the committee overturned the original refusal of the plans.