Eildon takes Coopersknowe fight to the Government

Eildon already has permission to build 58 rentable flats and houses at Easter Langlee.

But the Selkirk-based social landlord has been so swamped with applications for homes in the region it submitted a fresh application last year for 69 properties on the same site at Coopersknowe.

The new bid included an extra two storeys being added to blocks of flats and two further building plots being developed.

Fears over additional cars on the C77 entrance road led to 14 objections being tabled by neighbouring residents.

And local Galashiels councillors also voiced their objections at February's planning meeting.

Euan Jardine said: “The fact that 69 new houses would suddenly pop up in this area over the next two years may lead to a further 138 cars on the road.

“This will impact further on road safety concerns.

"I believe that looking at the plans and car spaces made available, Eildon have factored in that just over 100 cars will be in this new development, so congestion and road safety concerns are going to continue if this development goes ahead."

And fellow local councillor Andy Anderson told the committee: “I do have concerns regarding the amount of houses here, going from 50, to 58, now up to 69.

“I have concerns over that extra volume of traffic on the C77."

Eildon chief executive Nile Istephan claimed that his housing association was receiving an average of 116 bids for each new home at the Craigpark development in Galashiels.

And that the additional 11 properties at Easter Langlee were needed to meet demand.

Although Scottish Borders Council's planning committee recommended that the 69-home application should be approved, members of the committee voted for refusal.

Last week Eildon submitted an appeal to the Scottish Government.

Chief executive Nile istephan said: “We are appealing the decision for Coopersknowe development – because officers had offered recommendations for approval. "This is the next stage of the process.”