Edinburgh fine art student at risk of failing degree amid fears the council will tear down her garden studio

Planners say it is “dominating” in scale and affects the area

Megan Archibald in her home studio

To Megan Archibald it’s a garden shed which serves as her studio, office and only workspace since lockdown stopped her attending Edinburgh University as a postgrad who is due to receive her Master of Fine Art degree in May.

Megan was under the impression that she didn’t require planning permission to build the shed but has since received complaints stating that the building is 40cm too tall and therefore does not comply with regulations.

She told a meeting of West Lothian Council’s Development Management Committee: “We read the council website and we called the council and were informed we didn’t need planning permission. We built the shed in good faith.”

Megan Archibald's home studio

Giving up the studio would mean ending her studies so Megan is now fighting for retrospective planning permission to avoid this happening.

She added: “I have spoken with my neighbours and I have suggested putting up a little trellis. We could put up flowers or fake flowers.”

Planning officers said that lockdown had prevented staff from visiting the garden to inspect the studio shed and its outlook. Their main complaint was that because it sits atop decking, it is higher than it should be.

Megan, whose work includes projects with local youth and community groups, uses the garden shed at her mum’s home in Eliburn because there’s a real shortage of artist workspace in Livingston.

Refusing planning permission would be tantamount to ending her studies because she has nowhere else to work.

She told the meeting: “It’s my studio, It’s my only place I have to work. I use it to paint and do editing and admin and make stuff.”

The award-winning painter and photographer – whose work featured in the 2019 annual report of the homeless charity the Bethany Christian Trust, entitled Building People Up – won support from councillors who rejected the idea of refusing retrospective planning permission for the studio.

Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick suggested there was room for compromise: “The studio is fine. The fact it’s on decking causes the problem.

“I’m sure with some with imagination, we can sort it out.”

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