The owners of Belhaven Trout Farm have been granted planning permission to rebuild an old cottage on the site, despite objections by council officials.

The Rennie family applied for permission to rebuild the derelict dairy cottage so manager Fiona Rennie could live on the farm.

They said it was vital she was there to provide 24-hour visual monitoring of the Biel Water and protect the fish.

But planners recommended rejecting the proposal, despite their own agricultural consultant saying it should go ahead.

In a report to East Lothian Council’s planning committee last week, officials insisted electronic monitoring systems were sufficient to check to water levels and give enough advanced warning of any issues.

And they urged councillors to reject the plans saying it breached their planning policy for controlling new housing developments in the countryside.

But the council was told their own consultant had ruled there was rural justification for the build.

And they were told the dairy cottage which had stood on the land had been destroyed by a fire some years ago.

Councillor Michael Veitch said he found it extraordinary that officials had chosen to ignore expert advice about the need for the cottage.

The committee heard experts had confirmed electronic monitoring was not 100 per cent effective and could go wrong, with devastating impact on the farm.

Councillors voted 16 to 1 to approve the new house.