New Gorebridge family home rejected by planners

A farm owner’s hopes of building a home for future generations to live in as he retires from his business have been dashed after planners ruled the house unnecessary.

Rob Stenhouse, who owns Mountskip Farm, Gorebridge, applied for planning permission for a new house on a former outdoor equestrian area on his land.

He told Midlothian planners he hoped his daughter and her family would take the reins of his livery business, which houses up to 30 horses, as well as holiday lodges and a cattle business run from the farm, so he could retire.

And he said the three businesses required onsite supervision, pointing out the farm had been the victim of three break-ins since he took it on in 2013.

The site of the proposed new home near Gorebridge.

Initial plans for a house for his daughter’s family were rejected by planners and a revised design lodged which created a smaller three-bedroom house on the site.

However, this week planners rejected the latest application after ruling that while having people living onsite to supervise the businesses may be “desirable” they were not essential.

And they said the presence of neighbouring properties on the land provided “passive security” to the businesses even though their residents were not involved.

Dismissing the application for the house planners said: “It has not been demonstrated that the need cannot be met within an existing settlement.

“It would appear that it would be desirable for there to be a house on site for these businesses, rather than there being a quantifiable need fora house in order to further the businesses.”

Objections to the new house were lodged by neighbours who questioned whether there was a need for onsite supervision and whether a new house needed to be built to accommodate it.

They also pointed out the owners knew there were no farmworker cottages associated with the property when they bought it and raised concerns the new house would not fit into the historic character of the area.

An agent for Mr Stenhouse however dismissed the objectors saying their observations “involve inaccurate assumptions, false suppositions and betray alack of understanding of the nature of the businesses”.

He added: “Objectors may not appreciate that the farm has been subject to three burglaries during Mr Stenhouse’s ownership which have been subject of police reports.

“These have involved break-ins to buildings, theft of equipment, damage and disruption.

“Mr Stenhouse is clear that these risks would be exacerbated if key staff were required to reside remotely and reliance placed on passive surveillance.”

Refusing planning permission officers said it had not been demonstrated that the new house was required for the business and the house would have a “significant detrimental impact” in the surrounding area.