East Lothian Council’s Planning Committee met remotely on Tuesday 15th March and granted permission for a change to the number of homes & the layout of a Macktaggart and Mickel development on the wider Letham Mains site at Haddington.
The section of the site had planning consent for 40 homes but the applicant proposed an increase to 43 homes plus an alteration to the site layout. The new plans would involve 10 three bedroom homes, 23 four bedroom homes and 10 five beds. The change would address market demand for family living and home working. A total of 18 objections were received, including a petition signed by 34 residents of Kerr Loan, who were concerned about the scrapping of a second access on to David’s Way, which they believed would increase volume of traffic on their street and cause pedestrian safety issues. Following a debate, committee members voted six to four in favour of approving the plans.
Planning consent was refused for changes to planning conditions at Bangley Quarry, near Haddington. Quarry operations ceased in 2008. In February 2018, permission was granted for an anaerobic digestion plant on the site and works have begun on the foundations. The applicant, Green Forty Development Ltd, had applied to vary two planning conditions to allow them to increase the capacity of the plant and to allow for transport of animal waste to the plant for use in the digester. A total of 15 objections were received, stating concerns about an increase in large vehicle traffic and potential bad smells from the plant and by vehicles transporting the animal by-products. No objections were raised by SEPA or the council’s biodiversity, public health or roads officers. The application was called off the Scheme of Delegation List by Councillors John McMillan and Craig Hoy. Following a debate, committee members voted to refuse permission by five votes to four.
An application for alterations to the former art gallery and tearoom on Manse Road, Dirleton, was approved. The site is within the Dirleton Conservation Area and the house and walled garden are Category B Listed. The applicants, Stuart Feather & Sheila Rodgers, applied to alter and extend the house plus create a greenhouse, studio, shed and two holiday lets. The application was called off the Scheme of Delegation by Councillor Jeremy Findlay to allow the community to express their reservations. A total of 16 representations were received, 14 of them objections, mainly concerned that the development was not in keeping with the conservation area. Committee members voted five to three to approve the application.
An application for renewal of planning permission in principle at the former Cockenzie Power Station site, for onshore cables and infrastructure associated with the Inchcape Offshore Windfarm, was unanimously approved. Permission was previously granted by the Scottish Government in February 2019.
The relevant application numbers are: Letham Mains, 21/01322/PM; Bangley Quarry, 21/01525/P; Dirleton, 21/00025/P and Cockenzie, 21/01474/PPM and 18/00189/PPM.