DEVELOPERS who want to build modern housing in the shadow of one of Scotland’s oldest castles have taken their case to the Scottish Government.

Plans to put 36 new homes close to Dirleton Castle were described by local campaigners as being “as alien as if they had landed from outer space”.

Scotland’s environmental lobby joined forces with residents to oppose the proposal.

The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) described the plans as too “modern and suburban”.

It said that the development, proposed at Castlemains Farm immediately to the east of the 13th century castle, would “irreparably damage the setting of Dirleton, destroying the important edges that define the village and separate it from the surrounding countryside”.

East Lothian Council’s planning committee threw out the application in September, despite their own officers recommending it should be approved.

Local ward councillor Jane Henderson said that the intervention from APRS had been “critical”.

Developers Queensberry Properties told the committee they had held extensive consultations with council planners and the local community but they admitted they had come to an impasse with Dirleton Village Association and had to “agree to disagree”. They accused the village association of wanting houses which “turn their back on the outside world”.

But architect John Finlay, who helped produce a document outlining the village association’s vision for its future, said of Queensberry’s plans: “The design is as alien as if it had landed from outer space.

“It even has a suburban road, with all the clutter that entails, in the forefront of the castle.”

A spokesperson for Queensberry said they had appealed after investing three years in their proposed housing plan.

He said: "We were naturally very disappointed that, despite an exhaustive pre-application and post-submission process, local councillors overturned the recommendation of their professional planning colleagues and refused the application at the September planning committee.  

“The application has the support of both the East Lothian planning team and Historic Environments Scotland, as well as the housing allocation in the now adopted Local Development Plan. After a great deal of thought, we have therefore decided to appeal the decision of the Planning Committee to the Scottish Government and we are cautiously optimistic that the appeal will be viewed positively alongside the recommendation for approval it received from the Council’s planning department.”

The council received 71 written objections and only one representation supporting the development, which cited a need for affordable housing in the village.

Dirleton Castle is a medieval fortress which dates back to the mid-13th century and has been at the centre of numerous sieges. At one point it was owned by the Ruthvens, who were involved in several plots against Mary Queen of Scots and King James VI.

The committee voted to reject the recommendation to approve the plans by seven votes to four.

Now Queensberry Developments have appealed to the Scottish Government, which is expected to carry out a site visit before its reporter makes a recommendation to ministers.