AMBITIOUS proposals to turn a double decker bus into holiday accommodation on a farm between Gifford and East Saltoun have been given the green light.

Balfour Stewart submitted plans to East Lothian Council in January for land at his home on Bankrugg Farm, west of Gifford.

The vehicle, along with two single-decker buses, can now be transformed into holiday accommodation, which would sleep up to four people.

And the first single decker bus could be transformed and trading by this summer.

Then, a double decker bus could be altered in time for the following year – depending on the success of the first year’s trading.

Smiths Gore, acting on behalf of Mr Stewart, submitted a supporting statement outlining the proposals.

The 16-page document concludes that the proposals are “well designed” and take “necessary cognisance of the site’s surroundings”.

The report explains: “The applicants want to diversify their farming activities by offering visitor accommodation in a novel format. Mr Stewart is a bus enthusiast and already has a collection of old and vintage buses on the farm.

“The proposal is to renovate three of these buses to provide luxury accommodation for up to four people per vehicle.

“The proposals have been devised to allow visitors to enjoy the expansive views from both within the buses and from an intimately formed private open space that will lie adjacent to each of the buses.

“Each bus will be visually shielded from the other buses and any public vistas by earth bunds, planted with native species to assimilate with their surroundings.”