North Berwick flat owner not allowed to use it as a holiday let

The planning application for the flat on Quality Street in the town centre brought objections from two local residents, who were concerned that "multiple strangers" entering and leaving the building would pose a security risk.

And they said that short-stay visitors would not understand the recycling and household waste system in the communal building, which required "close attention to detail by all residents".

North Berwick Community Council told planners that flats with shared stairwells should not be considered for holiday lets.

They said: “It has been clearly established that flats with communal entrances are not suitable for holiday lets out of consideration for the neighbours sharing the flatted building.”

Applicant Stuart McLean applied for retrospective planning permission to change the use of the flat from residential to short-stay self-catering holiday accommodation.

'Misusing and abusing the property'

A report by planners said that two objections from local residents were received raising concerns about the impact on the shared stairwell used by all the flats in the three-storey building.

It added: “There is expensive equipment (such as bikes) stored in the communal hallway and this proposal raises a number of security concerns given that multiple strangers would be entering and leaving the building at various times.”

The council’s senior environmental health officer also raised concerns about the shared stairwells.

They said: “The use of properties for short-term holiday let can result in future guests misusing and abusing the property in a manner that is anti-social and can result in a significant impact on the amenity of neighbours.”

Refusing to grant the change of use, planning officers said: “The change of use of the existing first-floor flatted property to a holiday let is incompatible with, and harmful to, the amenity of the occupiers of the building.”