East Lothian Council’s Planning Committee met remotely on Tuesday 6 December and considered a number of applications.
These included a new primary school at Blindwells, new houses at Elphinstone and changes to a planning consent at Monks Muir Caravan Park.
Further details of a new primary school on the Blindwells site were approved. Planning permission in principle had been granted for Blindwells, allowing for a mixed use development including education provision. Development is already underway, with a number of private and council homes already occupied. Phase one of the school would involve a 14 classroom primary school (to cater for 420 pupils), an early years facility/nursery (to cater for 100, 2-5 year olds), along with associated playgrounds, playing fields, car parking and other facilities. No objections were received for the plans. The application was approved unanimously.
Members agreed to vary conditions of planning consent at Smeaton Recycling Centre, Whitecraig, to allow Sunday working between 8am and 5pm. Consent had previously been granted, in September 2021, for a period of one year. Hamilton Waste & Recycling had applied to make this change permanent. Eight letters of objection had been received for the plans, stating concerns about a potential increase in noise, dust and pollution and concerns about road safety. However, there were no objections to the plans by SEPA, or the council’s Road Services or Environmental Health teams. The application was supported by eight votes to one.
The committee agreed to two applications relating to Monksmuir Caravan Park, between Haddington and East Linton. The site has been in operation since the 1950s and today is predominantly a retirement community of static caravans which are occupied year-round. Councillors voted unanimously to remove conditions associated with two previous planning applications.
Planning permission in principle was granted to applicant Bellway Homes, to build 86 houses and four flats on land to the north of Castlehill, on the west of Elphinstone. 19 houses and four flats would be affordable housing. Committee members heard that a pre application community consultation had been carried out by the developer. Four objections were submitted to the plans, including concerns about potential drainage problems caused by the development and loss of privacy to existing homes. Councillors voted by six votes to two to approve the application.
Permission was granted for replacement doors and windows at the B-listed Musselburgh Old Course Golf Club. Planning officers had advised refusing consent on the grounds the proposal would not be in keeping with the architectural and historic interest of the building. However, councillors voted unanimously to approve the application.
Committee agreed to vary planning consent relating to two new homes at Turners House, Spott, to allow for the construction of a garden room in the grounds of one of the new properties. Councillors voted unanimously to approve the application.
The relevant application numbers are: Smeaton, 21/00231/PM; Monksmuir, 21/00093/PM and 21/00092/PM; Elphinstone, 21/01608/PM; Musselburgh, 22/00506/LBC; Spott, 22/00990/P and Blindwells 22/00682/AMM.