A MIDLEM couple have had their plans to build a home on the former Linthill House estate scuppered by Scottish Borders councillors.

Alexis and Rose Kennedy, of Midlem, near Selkirk, were vying to build a two-storey, four-bedroom home in a field to the south of Linthill Country House, near Melrose.

However, the location plan and building design, submitted by Dunoon-based company Architeco, has found little favour with the council’s planning officers who described the proposals as “highly detrimental to the rural amenity of the site”.

The Kennedys subsequently appealed to the council’s local review body, which met today (February 18) to deliberate the application.

Scottish Borders Council planning officer Stuart Herkes urged the local review body to uphold the planning department’s decision.

He wrote: “Ultimately no appropriate case that would allow this proposal to be supported under any economic requirement for a house in this location has been given, and as an isolated housing proposal with no justification, it is only reasonably refused as being contrary to council policy.

“The current proposal is also reasonably refused on the basis of the fact that its particular design and layout would be highly detrimental to the rural amenity and environment of this site.

“Ultimately such an ancillary and suburban character of development, with no particular concern to reflect rural or traditional architecture, would in itself detract unacceptably from the designed landscape and surrounding countryside.

“For these reasons, the current application should be refused.”

The majority of councillors agreed, although they stressed the only issue with the application was the design of the house, as concerns raised during the planning process regarding roads access and tree protection had been addressed.

Jedburgh and District councillor Scott Hamilton told the meeting: “When you see the building from road, the principle of having a house there can’t really be argued against, and the issue of the roads access can be managed.

“It just comes down to the design of the building. It’s a lovely place in the world and there’s a lot of people wanting to live in that landscape.

“I’m not particularly enthralled with the design. I don’t think it captures the character of the area, and it doesn’t look very traditional.

“I don’t believe this is the right design for this area.”

Leaderdale and Melrose councillor Tom Miers, who chairs the local review body, agreed, saying: “I agree that this is not really up to the standards that this particular location demands.”