A BID to convert a dilapidated 200-year-old lodge house into a three-bedroom family home in Peeblesshire has been given the green light – on the casting vote of a planning committee chairman.

Members of Scottish Borders Council’s Local Review Body were divided over whether to overturn a council officer’s recommendation to refuse an application to alter and extend East Lodge at Netherurd, Blyth Bridge, on Monday.

Officer Scott Shearer had deemed the proposal to be of too large a scale.

Two committee members supported his recommendation and two opposed it.

That left the review body’s chair, councillor Simon Mountford, to cast the deciding vote and allow the redevelopment to go-ahead.

In his submission against the original refusal applicant Alasdair Mackenzie said: “The existing roof structure is leaking and riddled with woodworm and rot, resulting in the whole roof structure requiring to be replaced.

“As part of the renovation to the existing building, it is proposed to raise the height of the wall head by approximately 1m to provide additional head height within the roof space to accommodate additional floor space for three bedrooms, a bathroom and en-suite.

“A new extension would be constructed to the rear of the existing property and the gable end, to accomplish this an existing old extension and old out building will be removed.”

Councillor Viv Thomson, of the Tweeddale West ward, opposed the review appeal, saying: “This property is in my area and I do have concerns about the scale of the development proposed on the site. I think it’s too big.”

Councillor Neil Richards, of the Hawick and Denholm ward, approved of the application, saying: “Yes, it’s a bit bigger than the present building but that shouldn’t be a problem. I would like to support it.”

Tweeddale East ward’s Marshall Douglas opposed the application, saying: “I share some concerns over the scale of the building, as to whether it would fit into the historic look of the site. I do, however, have great sympathy for the applicant because the building is in a dilapidated state and something needs to be done to make it habitable, but it looks too large to be acceptable.”

Jedburgh and District’s Councillor Sandy Scott, supported the appeal.

He said: “This  building was built about 200 years ago in the era of the pony and trap and life has changed dramatically since then and likewise building materials have changed dramatically in 200 years. I think we need to pat on the back somebody who wants to bring this building back into decent repair again.”

Chair Simon Mountford, for the Kelso and District ward, cast the deciding vote in favour of the applicant, saying: “This is a building of architectural merit but which is in a very poor state of repair. The proposal is to bring this back into habitable condition and it will be more sustainable and perhaps more fit for 21st century living, in my view.”