A NEW chemical dosing facility at an existing water treatment works in Hawick has been given the green light.

A planning application had been submitted to Scottish Borders Council for new dosing kiosks, the demolition of existing structures and associated works at the Roberton treatment and reservoir storage plant.

Plant operator Scottish Water has identified the need to install two chemical dosing kiosks to house the chemicals and dosing equipment, two cabinets at the point of application at the inlet works, a new sample kiosk and a new wash water booster set kiosk.

The works are required to provide a pH balance for better coagulation.

A report with the application says: “The construction compound is not readily in public view from the approach roads in the area, we accept consideration needs to be given to consider its wider impact on the local community from paths and properties in the area.

“It is also noted that the landscape is open beyond the screened site, sloping away to Roberton and areas of notable population. 

“The proposed buildings will match the colour of the other buildings on site, and they would therefore be read in association as part of the cluster of buildings at the treatment works.

 “The  proposal supports the long term sustainable use and management of land as it reuses existing land within the Water Treatment Works, with a minor expansion of land required for landscaping use.

“We contend the development would not be of an excessive scale and seek to support the staff of an operational facility that in turn is infrastructure for the settlement’s service, meaning that the proposal will be of benefit to the local community.

“The chemical dosing facility will be set neatly alongside an existing building and fir tree screened boundary, and its visual impact will be minor in comparison to the existing site wide infrastructure.

“It is not near a public route where it is visible from a public road and as such visual impact is considered to be very low. The scale, colour and design will not be unduly prominent or incongruous at the site.

“There are few nearby residential properties given the remote location, and the neighbouring uses (agricultural land) are screened. The proposals seek to make a good relationship with the existing utilitarian infrastructure.”

In his report approving the approval, SBC planning officer Stuart Small, says: “Key planning issues under consideration for this application are the scale, design and materials of the proposal and the potential impact on the neighbouring properties amenity and privacy.

“The site is accessed from a private road, and it is not readily visible from the public realm. There may be short views of the development form nearby paths and properties, but these will be viewed in the context of the wider site and overall there will be no impact on the visual appearance of the existing landscape.

“The design and chosen colour of the kiosks and associated infrastructure is considered to be sympathetic to its surroundings and it would not be detrimental to the appearance of the local area. The visual impact of the proposal is considered to be acceptable.”