MORE than 500 objections to plans for a £49 million care village on farmland east of North Berwick were lodged with planners.

East Lothian Council’s planning officers described the proposals to build 152 residential and care units on Castleton Farm as “harmfully prominent” and “grossly out of character” with the surrounding countryside.

And in a report due to go to the council’s planning committee on Tuesday, officers recommend the plans be thrown out, pointing out that they breach the East Lothian Local Development Plan.

However, the final decision rests with councillors on the committee, who could still approve the scheme.

The local development plan does not allow new development on rural sites unless it can be shown they are needed to benefit local operations such as agriculture.

Officers said: “The proposed 152 residential accommodation and care units to people in need of care has no operational requirement for a countryside location.

“Rather it would be a significant, sporadic development that would harm the objectives of the North Berwick Countryside Around Town area.”

The proposed care village would be made up of a trio of three-storey-high flat blocks, a community hub and detached cottage style accommodation.

In total, 509 representations were made to the council on the plans, with 506 registering objections. The other three wrote to highlight inaccuracies in the application which have since been resolved.

Objectors raised issues with the size of the development, its impact on the countryside and views, as well as lack of public transport to the site and increase in traffic to the town itself.

North Berwick Community Council also objected and criticised a health assessment, submitted on behalf of the applicants Goldcrest Communities Ltd,  which said:  “The siting and orientation of the built environment celebrates and enhances views to striking local landmarks such as North Berwick Law and Bass Rock.”

The community council said: “The fact is that the intended buildings will make the most of the views to striking local landmarks for the care home residents, but destroy them for everybody outside.

“The site is in a prominent position on the A198, which is a major tourist route, and the envisaged buildings would totally destroy the views that are cherished by visitors and locals alike.

“Furthermore, views would also be destroyed from the John Muir cycle path past Rhodes Farm and from much of the Glen Golf Course.”

The report will be considered by the planning committee when it meets online on Tuesday.