PLANS for a rooftop extension to the Whynot? premises in North Berwick were given the green light by East Lothian Council this week.

The plans, for a glass dome with seating inside to be added to the roof at the rear of the High Street building, were approved at a meeting of East Lothian Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

Whynot? is home to a collection of small, independent retailers who rent out space within the premises.

Four objections had been received to the plans, with concerns that the extension would overlook the ‘Tigh Mhor’ sheltered housing complex, as well as issues around noise and smell from the extension, and that seating outside the glass dome appeared to be permitted in the plans.

Councillor David Berry, local ward member, asked for the application to be dealt with by the planning committee because of the confusion around outside seating.

At the meeting, Iain McFarlane, service manager – planning, said a 1.8-metre fence would be erected so residents neighbouring the development were not affected.

Councillor Jim Goodfellow, another ward member, voiced his concerns about noise, but Mr McFarlane said the council’s noise team would be able to deal with any complaints.

Local members, and Councillor Stuart Currie, praised Whynot?, which offers businesses a chance to take out short-term leases for trading space within the premises.

Mr Berry said: “Whynot? has been an asset to the town and as such has been very useful to the wellbeing of the town.”

Mr Goodfellow said Whynot?, which opened in 2013, had been a “positive addition to North Berwick”.

He added: “The cafe is an essential part of that business.

“There were concerns from neighbours and when the plans came out, those concerns were very real.

“I feel I will support this application, despite being concerned with the initial plans.”

Mr Currie, leader of the council’s opposition SNP Group, felt the application was “good news” because it showed the strength of the business, saying: “It is a positive development from a site that had a bit of a chequered history, in terms of businesses going in and out.”