East Lothian Planning Committee met on Tuesday 6 May and discussed three applications, including 51 homes – phase one of development at the former Herdmanflat Hospital site in Haddington.
Planning permission in principle had been granted in November last year for 145 units of affordable housing for older people on the site. The development includes the conversion of existing buildings and construction of new ones; an active travel link to the A199; new pedestrian access points and open spaces including woodland, pétanque pitches, community garden and orchard; a SUDS drainage system; tree removal and compensatory planting; biodiversity planting and woodland play locations.
This first phase, which was unanimously approved by committee, will be in the southern section of the site and will feature four three-storey buildings and one two-storey building, accommodating the 51 homes. The units are all designed for an aging population including dementia friendly design. There will be 31 one bedroom and 21 two-bedroom homes. Each of the four blocks will have access to a private courtyard garden space and clothes drying area as well as bin, cycle and mobility scooter facilities. No representations had been received in relation to this application.
Committee also voted nine votes to one to approve an application for replacement windows at Engine Cottage, Abbotsford Road, North Berwick. The application had been called of the Scheme of Delegation List by Councillor McFarlane to allow for a site visit and discussion at committee. Planners had recommended refusal of the plans for the Category B Listed building, which is in the North Berwick Conservation Area, in line with Local Development Plan and Historic Environment Scotland policies on alterations to listed buildings, which aim to preserve the original features and character. One written objection had been received, stating that the proposed windows were not in keeping with the historic character of the building and that alternatives did not appear to have been considered. Following a debate, members decided to allow the existing windows to be replaced with ‘aluclad’ ones. They agreed, however, that the Service Manager for Planning should write to Historic Environment Scotland to query the government body’s policy of not commenting on individual proposals, only referring planners to the existing policies.
An application reducing the width of driveways at Avant Homes (Scotland) Ltd properties being built on the wider Blindwells site, in line with updated guidelines, was unanimously approved. No representations had been received for this application.
A planning application for a surface water pipe on land east of Dunbar Garden Centre was continued to a later date to allow for a screening opinion to be prepared to decide whether an Environmental Impact Assessment was required.
The relevant application numbers are: Herdmanflat, 24/01284/AMM and 23/01367/PPM; North Berwick, 24/01380/LBC; Blindwells, 25/00246/PM and Dunbar, 24/01004/P.