A BID to abandon plans to build a pub/restaurant and replace them with more housing at a new development has been rejected.

Plans were lodged last summer for 16 new homes to be created at Gateside, on Haddington’s western edge, on a site previously approved for a pub/restaurant.

Persimmon Homes East Scotland – which is currently building 112 houses next to the site as part of a development which was also to include the pub – attempted to get permission for the extra housing after claiming there was “a lack of interest” in the site for pub/restaurant use.

However, East Lothian Council’s planning department has told the developer the plans are unacceptable.

Planners outlined three reasons for the proposals to be turned down.

The decision notice states that the development would result in “the loss of available employment land that is part of the employment land supply of Haddington, to the detriment of East Lothian’s economy” and also would set “an undesirable precedent”.

Finally, it adds: “The proposed housing development, by virtue of its size, scale and positioning, would appear as a prominent and visually intrusive feature within its gateway location whereby the houses on the western part of the site would turn their backs to the access road to the west and thus would integrate poorly with their surroundings.”

Paul Darling, one of the town’s community council planning liaison officers, felt that the correct decision had been made.

He said: “The further Haddington is expanding, the more we are going to need that space for retail or industrial. If we build houses on it then you are not going to have that space and will push the retail or industrial out of the town.”

Mr Darling stressed that he was not suggesting a mini town centre but felt that there needed to be facilities there for the number of new houses being built – more than 1,000 houses are being built on Haddington’s western edge.

He felt a small hotel could be a popular addition and help attract events to Haddington.

The community council had previously outlined its objection to the bid to ditch the restaurant plan, accusing the developers of not trying hard enough to market the site for its intended purpose and stating a belief that “in reality [they] simply wanted more houses/profit”.

A resident of one of the new houses at the development, who asked to remain anonymous, welcomed the plans being turned down.

They said: “This pub was heavily pushed by marketing suite staff when we were buying the house and was a big attraction, so we were disappointed when it transpired the developers were trying to wheedle out of it – we were effectively lied to.

“It’s good to see the planners have rejected this – we hope the developers, who don’t seem to have tried very hard to market the pub, will now build it, as there would undoubtedly be demand.

“At the moment the nearest pub is at least 20 minutes’ walk away – there should be something at this side of town other than just houses.”

In submitting the new plans, the developers claimed there was a “lack of interest” in creating the business, which it is thought would be similar to The Pine Marten in Dunbar, and would be capable of seating 200 customers.

At least three companies were approached to take on the pub but with no success.

A report to the council highlighted the “lack of prominence to the A1 or A199 has caused a lack of interest amongst potential operations”.

It adds: “Frontages along main roads are the most desirable for pub/restaurant operators and this site lacks a feature of this nature.”

Jim Kirkpatrick, managing director at Persimmon Homes East Scotland, was disappointed with the decision to reject the plans.

He said: “We are disappointed that our planning application for housing aimed at local first-time-buyers and young families on a brownfield site in a sustainable location has been refused, particularly when there is no interest in the site for its consented use as a pub/restaurant.

“We await the decision notice which will set out the reasons for refusal of the application before we decide on the best course of action.”