A BID to build affordable homes next to the Tweed in Peebles is being taken to the Scottish Government.

Eildon Housing's application for 40 rentable apartments at Tweedbridge Court was refused by Scottish Borders Council's planning committee in February.

But the Selkirk-based social landlord has now appealed against the decision.

And over the coming months a Reporter from the government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division will consider the facts.

A spokesman for Eildon said: "The appeal proposal represents a significant development within Peebles in a sensitive, prominent location on the edge of the Conservation Area.

"The physical land use principal of housing on the site is established through the site's previous residential use and its specific allocation in the adopted Local Development Plan for an indicative 50 housing units.

"Following an amended approach from the original submission, the revised design as currently proposed, represents a more traditional form of development."

The buildings originally planned for the site were reduced in height by 70 centimetres following initial opposition.

Although the revised design was supported by the local authority's planning department as well as the heritage and design team at Newtown St Boswells, it didn't win favour with community leaders in Peebles.

The town's Community Council and Civic Society added their voices to the objections of more than 100 residents.

And elected members representing Tweeddale East, Shona Haslam and Stuart Bell, both spoke out against the plans during the planning committee meeting in February.

Mrs Haslam said the community was not against affordable housing on the site but felt the current plans would have a severe visual impact.

Mr Bell said he did not find the design and character of the buildings acceptable.

He added: "My concern is the protection of residential amenity - the blocks are too high."

Scottish Borders Council's planning committee voted by six-to-three to reject the application.

It is expected that a Reporter will be allocated to the appeal in the next week or two, with a site visit arranged for next month.

Scottish Borders Council has been requested to respond to the appeal by May 24, with the public deadline for representations set at May 31.