PLANS to turn a former Coastguard station into a bijou beachfront home has been rejected over its lack of “outlook”.

Planners ruled the redesign of the building, on Lamer Street, Dunbar, would give any occupant just 9 square metres of living/kitchen space.

They said the lack of garden and amenity meant it would be too small to meet standards set out in their own policy.

The plans to turn the station into a one-bedroom house were lodged after it went on the market for £60,000 after the emergency service moved.

Plans lodged with the council proposed creating a living area downstairs and an upstairs bedroom with a balcony which would look out onto the sea.

However revised plans used part of the downstairs area for parking and cut the space available.

A report by an East Lothian Council’s planning officer said: “Given the small area of the ground floor and that within that area the wet room and stairs would be provided, the actual living/kitchen area of the house would amount to around 9 square metres.”

The plans were refused on the ground of its constrained nature which would allow neither privacy nor amenity to occupants.