A CLIFF-TOP cafe with spectacular views out over the Firth of Forth to Bass Rock has been given the green light by councillors.

The plans for land at Castleton Farm, east of North Berwick, were unanimously approved by East Lothian Council’s planning committee on Tuesday morning, despite planning officials recommending they be turned down.

Now Stuart and Jo McNicol, who live on the farm, aim to create the cafe, which will serve teas, coffees, hot chocolate, soft drinks and light lunches, as well as home baking created by Mrs McNicol, out of two shipping containers positioned in a T-shape.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr McNicol was delighted to see the cafe, which will be located between the Glen Golf Club and Canty Bay, get the go-ahead.

Work could start on the site in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to see the new venue open between February and Easter next year.

He told the Courier: “I am delighted and also glad to be offering a rather scenic area and opening it up to the general public and visitors – hopefully increasing visitor spend and also the time visitors spend in East Lothian.”

The cafe, off the A198, will create two full-time and four part-time jobs, with a view to that figure increasing as the business is established.

Tony Thomas, agent for the applicants, highlighted it was not the first time a proposal involving shipping containers had come before the committee.

He said: “In June this year the committee refused an application for a similar cafe proposal on the West Bay beachfront.

"It was said at the time that it was the right idea in the wrong place.

“This morning I hope you will agree with me that this proposal is the right idea and the right place.”

The walls of the building will be clad with horizontal larch cladding, with large glazed openings on the north and west.

There will be room for tables and chairs for 30 customers, as well as an outdoor area.

Car parking, at the end of a 125-metre driveway from the main road, will be used by 22 vehicles.

Planning officials had outlined two reasons for refusal, including the idea it set “an undesirable precedent” for similar types of development along the coastline of North Berwick.

In addition, officers felt the siting of the building and other changes would be “unnecessary and unsympathetic to this sensitive location”.

Jeremy Findlay, North Berwick Coastal councillor, had called the application in so committee members could consider the plans.

He disagreed with the recommendation to refuse the proposals, as did his ward colleague Jim Goodfellow, who noted vehicles stopped on the road to admire the view.

It is now hoped drivers will use the soon-to-be-created car park outside the cafe instead when they are looking across to Bass Rock.

Mr Goodfellow said: “I feel this is an excellent proposal that would diversify the business and I also think if it was on the A9 rather than the A198 this would be a viewpoint with a car park.”

Each member of the committee had their say on the proposals, which were given the go-ahead for five years, at which point Mr and Mrs McNicol can apply for a further period of time or to build more permanent structures on the site.