Border Telegraph | News | The fight goes on

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 6th December, 2005 15:06

The fight goes on

By Border Telegraph Newsroom

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to site houses opposite an historic Borders estate is to be given further consideration.

Scottish Borders Council’s Development and Building Control Committee decided yesterday (Monday) to continue proposals to build 91 houses at Netherbarns on the outskirts of Galashiels.

Voting 6-5, councillors called on the developer, M. & J. Ballantyne Ltd, to rethink the housing layout in addition to satisfying conditions set by local planners.

The scheme has provoked a storm of protest from conservation and heritage groups worried about the visual impact on Abbotsford House.

If approved, the Netherbarns site will face Sir Walter Scott’s home, one of the Borders prime tourist attractions.

Save Scott’s Countryside, Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and the Garden History Society believe development of the site, currently used for grazing, would spoil Abbotsford’s vistas and its relationship with the surrounding landscape.

Nicholas Watson, chairman of Save Scott’s Countryside, refused to concede that the battle to preserve the stately home’s environment was all but lost.

He said: “I’m very relieved that this application hasn’t been approved.

“The most alarming thing at the meeting was the insistence, made several times, that people shouldn’t question the suitability of this site for development.

“That completely contrasts with (planners’) assurances, given to so many, that applications will be subject to the most rigorous scrutiny.

“This is still a site that’s to be approved in the Finalised Local Plan.”

Alistair Lorimer, SBC’s senior development control manager, told yesterday’s meeting that the area at Netherbarns had had been included as an allocated housing site in the Finalised Local Plan.

He stressed that the Council would require the developer to make a development contribution to local educational needs and the Waverley Railway Project.

This view was challenged by Councillor Jock Houston, who said having mundane housing opposite “the grace of Abbotsford” was “outrageous.”

Councillors also voiced concern about the increase in houses, from 70 to 91, regarding the addition of 14 affordable houses as a sop to planners.

Mr Lorimer explained that the new scheme offered a development at the lower end of the density levels.

Local councillor Fiona Moore supported the plans, but emphasised the need to protect additional trees for screening and allow for primary school expansion.

Councillor Catriona Bhatia pointed out that councillors and the public had been debating the Local Plan for the last two years.

She said: “We approved this site for housing, so it’s a bit late to say we shouldn’t have put this in.

“We seem to be changing from NIMBYs to BANANAs — Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone.”

Councillors agreed with her suggestion that the application be continued to investigate changes in housing design, density and allocation of open space.

Meanwhile, the Border Telegraph understands that an additional 100 objections have been lodged in recent days.

Mr Watson said: “That’s encouraging and the fight goes on.”

Social Bookmarking What are these?