East Lothian developers win fight to build 150 homes on ‘public park land’

Wallyford: So, here’s the scoop. Scottish Ministers have given the green light for developers to build 150 homes on land that was supposed to be a public park. Can you believe it?

Last year, East Lothian councillors shot down the idea of adding more homes to the site, which was originally meant for open space. But the developers, East Lothian Development Ltd, argued that there’s already plenty of open space around.

They even claimed that if the land stayed empty, it would just become a hangout for troublemakers on quad bikes. Sounds a bit far-fetched, right?

At a recent planning committee meeting, some councillors felt that adding more homes was just too much. They remembered the original plan promised a big public park for the community.

Local councillor Colin McGinn expressed his worries, saying people in the area really need open spaces to enjoy. He felt this proposal was going too far.

Another councillor, Andy Forrest, agreed, saying it would spoil the area. Originally, the site was meant for just over 1,000 homes, but that number has more than doubled over time.

Planning convenor Norman Hampshire recalled the original plan, which included that public park. He said the developers’ new proposal just didn’t sit right with him.

Despite the council’s refusal, the developers appealed to the Scottish Ministers, who ultimately sided with them. But they did set over 20 conditions, like limits on the size of the homes and a ban on garages.

They also want landscaping and open space plans approved before any building starts, plus some artwork on the site. The Reporter noted that there’s actually enough open space in the overall development.

They concluded that the open space in the Wallyford Expansion Area exceeds the minimum requirements. The council didn’t provide any figures to dispute that.

So, that’s the latest on this housing saga. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, isn’t it?