PLANS for a new caravan park close to a Berwickshire village would provide a tourism boost to the county, according to a new report.

An application seeking planning permission in principle (PPP) for a new static caravan park at the Harelawside hamlet, around half a mile east of Grantshouse village, has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council (SBC).

When members of SBC’s Planning Building and Standards Committee meet on Monday (March 25) they will be recommended to approve the application.

Sixteen objections from 12 separate households have been received in response to the application.

Objectors have cited concerns that the proposal is out of scale with the local area, that there is already an oversupply of caravan parks, the lack of community benefits and that noise, litter and lorries “will not make this an attractive location for visitors”.

In his report, Paul Duncan, SBC planning officer, says: “The development would be used directly for tourism appropriate to a rural location.

“Objectors have identified the potential for disturbance to neighbouring farmland and livestock. However, it is not uncommon for caravan developments to be located adjacent to arable or pastural farmland and there is no known reason to believe such uses should be inherently incompatible.

“The scale of the proposed caravan park is significant in proportion to the small hamlet of Harelawside and even in the context of the wider settlement of Grantshouse.

“The character of the surrounding area is partly defined in part by busy the A1 trunk road. Overall, it is not considered that the proposal would be out of keeping with the character of the area.

“It is agreed that the proposed development has the potential to support the Berwickshire economy by increasing visitor numbers to local attractions and by supporting shops and services, though it is acknowledged these are generally found within the wider local area.”