Rejection of plans for huts at woodland near West Linton going to appeal

A bid to revive the culture of hutting in the Borders is hanging in the balance pending an appeal.
Land east of Wester Deans at West Linton lined up to host a development of 15 huts.Land east of Wester Deans at West Linton lined up to host a development of 15 huts.
Land east of Wester Deans at West Linton lined up to host a development of 15 huts.

Almost a decade ago, the 1,000 Huts campaign was launched across Scotland in an effort to establish new sites.

However, an application submitted in August last year for the building of 15 huts at North Cloich woods, east of Wester Deans, near West Linton, was refused by Scottish Borders Council planners in May on the basis that it would be impossible to create a sustainable landscaping scheme on the site.

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That’s a decision now being appealed against by Edinburgh-based Urban Animation.

Members of the council’s local review body are to reassess that refusal when they meet via video-link from 10am on Monday, September 21.

A spokesperson for Urban Animation said: “The planning officer suggests trees will not grow here, yet a fully mature commercial forestry crop was harvested on this site 10 years ago.

“Restricted access to travel and public transport is given as a second reason for refusal, yet other developments approved locally in recent times are more remote from bus services and paths.

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“Active travel and bus provision falls well within published Scottish Government standards for rural development.

“The planning department has applied very different standards to this application beyond what has been required of other developments in this area.

“The applicant seeks a fair assessment of the proposals.

“Recently, the local review body has approved the development of two new houses to the west of the site at Cowdenburn Cottages and a vehicle body repair workshop a short distance to the north-west of the application site.

“Community engagement has been undertaken locally and posters displayed in Eddleston, West Linton, Penicuik, Peebles and at the site.

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“At a site meeting held in late July, one local family from Whim and one local individual from Eddleston attended and responded positively to the proposal.”

Hutting is a well-established recreational pastime in many European countries and is beginning to be re-established in Scotland.

The applicant’s spokesperson added: “There are examples of traditional hutting sites locally at Eddlestone, Carlops and Soonhope by Peebles, although these are very different in character to the proposals in the application.

“These hut communities were constructed in the early 20th century by miners in Midlothian as an escape from industrial life.

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“The modern hutting movement in Scotland has been promoted by Reforesting Scotland’s 1,000 Huts campaign. It seeks to reconnect people with nature by creating woodland-based opportunities for off-grid recreational huts constructed from local timber.”