Bid to replace one Peebles house with two rejected by councillors

The rejection of Robert Harrison’s plans to flatten a house at 1 Benrig at Cuddyside in December has been upheld.

Members of Scottish Borders Council’s local review body discussed the plans, submitted by Peebles architecture practice D&H Farmer, on Monday but upheld the previous reasons for refusal that they went against quality standard policy and failed to address flooding and parking concerns.

Kelso councillor Simon Mountford said: “It is a case of overdevelopment, trying to squeeze two homes on the site of one. The height would have a adverse impact on amenity, there is insufficient parking and on all counts this fails to meet the criteria of a high-quality development.”

Hawick and Denholm councillor Clair Ramage added: “I don’t think it enhances a conservation area. It is overdevelopment. I agree the officers have got it right.”

Even if members had chosen to overturn the rejection, the plans would have had to go before the Scottish Government as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency had objected on the grounds of the extra home increasing the number of properties at risk on a flood plain.

The council’s flood team, however, had no issues with the application.

Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton added: “Our own flood officers had obviously assessed it and seen it to be fine. As a site for future development, I don’t see there being an issue in that respect, but this particular application I don’t think the development is appropriate.”

More news from that meeting here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/people/go-ahead-given-bonchester-bridge-home-after-appeal-review-2865163

https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/people/councillors-minded-overturn-planning-rejection-try-save-derelict-hawick-building-2866132