Application to build houses rejected

A real estate company’s application to construct two new houses on the outskirts of Forgandenny has been refused by planners after it drew six objections from locals.

Edinburgh-based B and N Investments applied for permission to build the houses between two existing properties at the southern end of County Place last November.

But residents pointed out that the site lies just beyond a settlement boundary included in the council’s local development plan (LDP).

One local Kate Marshall said in her objection:“The site is located immediately outwith the settlement boundary and is contrary to policy six of the recently adopted LDP.

“There is a requirement to determine [this application] in line with the development plan unless .. material circumstances dictate otherwise - the applicant has offered no justification for a departure.

“The appropriate means of establishing the principle of development in this location would be through the next review of the LDP.”

The council similarly said in a report recommending refusal of the application: “The local plan through policy six ... specifies that development will not be permitted except within the defined settlement boundaries which are defined ... in the plan.

“If the applicant does wish to pursue development on this site, the most appropriate means to do so would be seek for an alteration of the settlement boundary through review of the LDP.

“However, it is noted that the applicant previously sought to promote this site as part of a wider allocation for housing within the LDP2 but upon review the council did not include the site and this view was supported during the examination of plan by the government reporter.”