East Lothian Courier | News | Row over access puts housing plan on hold

Thursday, 8th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 2nd October, 2008 07:35

Row over access puts housing plan on hold

PLANS to turn a run-down historic town centre building into a residential development have been shelved in the wake of an on-going dispute over access.

GWS Property Ltd surprisingly withdrew its planning application for 7-9 Kilpair Street, less than four months after lodging it with East Lothian Council.

The Edinburgh-based firm wants to create three townhouses and a flat inside the shell of the three-storey listed building, which dates from the 18th century.

But it has emerged that the company is at loggerheads with the building’s tenants, the auctioneers Leslie & Leslie – which recently moved its office from Market Street to High Street – over when it can re-take possession of the premises.

Originally built for residential use, the property has latterly been used as a salesroom/warehouse by the auctioneers.

Bob Tait, for GWS Property Ltd, wrote to the council on September 1, stating: “My client has informed me that the current tenants of the premises are being somewhat difficult, and indeed they have now been served with a notice to quit the premises. This will not happen until the middle of October, and this is going to make access difficult.

“The position is whether we can ask you to put our application on hold until after October, when we will be able to gain access, or we can withdraw the application, and re-apply after October.”

Three days later, he wrote again, advising that the application had been withdrawn. He said he would return “in due course with a further proposal which will hopefully be more acceptable”.

Both parties in the access dispute refused to comment when approached by the Courier.

However, other associated documentation made available for public scrutiny at the council planning department, has revealed that 13 domestic neighbours and five non-domestic neighbours, including the Pheasant Hotel on Market Street, have received statutory notification of the plans.

The building is located at the corner of Kilpair Street and Brown Street at the heart of the Haddington Conservation Area.

An internal council report states: “The principle of the repair and alteration of the listed building (at 7-9 Kilpair Street) would be a welcome addition to a part of Haddington Conservation Area that is generally in poor condition.”

However, it adds: “Unless it can be shown that the residential development can co-exist with other existing users the application should be refused.”

A submission from Scottish Water said it had no objection to the proposed scheme, while Historic Scotland has promised to comment.

In a letter, the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland stated: “The Society welcomes the intention to return these fine listed houses from storage to domestic use again but it has reservations about the lack of detailed information about the design and moulding of doors and windows, internal and external.”

Colin Brown, of Colin’s Cabs, Brown Street, wrote: “This is a semi-industrial area with a taxi business that has been operating in this area for 50 years.

“We also have the back of many shops that take deliveries at all times.

“Also in close proximity are the George Hotel, The Bay Horse, The Pheasant Hotel, The Gardener’s Arms, the Conservative Club and Johnnie’s Cabs.

“I cannot see the reason that anyone would want to live so close to any of these businesses because of the noise element.

“I can also see problems arising from parking and access issues.”

Meanwhile, a poster in the window of Leslie & Leslie’s High Street premises is advertising “a modern auction of furniture and furnishings” next Thursday (October 9) at its Kilpair Street salesroom.

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