PLANS to build 120 new houses on the outskirts of Ormiston have been rejected by councillors because the village primary school could not cope.

The proposed development to the north of Limeylands Road was recommended for refusal by council officials after it was revealed the school would need to build two additional classrooms to accommodate new children –yet had no space to extend.

Tuesday’s East Lothian Council’s planning committee unanimously agreed to turn down the development, despite offers by the applicants to fund buses to transport children to neighbouring schools and reduce the development to just 70 houses.

The development, proposed by Barratt David Wilson Homes and Dr David Slight, covered eight hectares of agricultural land to the north of the village and included a bowling green, which developers said had been highlighted as desired during public consultations.

But in a report to councillors, officials raised concerns that the development would set a precedent for further expansion of the village to the east if it were approved.

And it said with Ormiston Primary School near its 203-pupil capacity it would not be able to take on the influx of children that would result.

Ward councillor Donald Grant said he could not support the application, adding: “Under our guidelines, proposed housing must be contained within robust and defensible boundaries and in this case the boundary to the east is neither robust nor defensible.” Councillor David Berry also questioned the impact of additional commuters on the village and surrounding area, and whether it was possible for the development to have a ‘Green Travel Plan’ when Ormiston currently had one hourly bus service and the stop was half a kilometre from the proposed new houses.

He said: “How can there be a Green Travel Plan when the bus is hourly and the nearest station is five miles away?” Ward councillor Kenny McLeod also rejected the planning application on educational grounds, while fellow ward councillor Jim Gillies added “I am concerned it is on prime agricultural land.” Councillor Tim Day added: “If we are to retain public confidence in our planning system we need to follow our guidelines.”