Plans for a new holiday let at Canty Bay, east of North Berwick, have been granted approval by East Lothian Council’s planning department.

The proposal outlined the removal of a previously existing holiday let, Chilliwack Cottage, which had “reached the end of its natural lifespan” following 85 years of maintenance and was no longer habitable.

A previous planning application for the site was lodged in 2021 but this was refused as the plans did not represent a like for like replacement of the existing chalet.

This was decided primarily because the reconstruction would have had a larger footprint than the previous building, potentially having two storeys and a “more imposing” appearance.

Vehicular access was also raised as a issue, with construction vehicles and the construction process potentially causing irreversible damage to the coastal scenery.

However, the revised application ensured the new development would remain as a holiday let with a redesign that had a footprint only “marginally bigger” than the existing chalet.

An independent survey of the existing building was conducted that stated that the original timber construction had “significantly degraded” over the years and this was exacerbated by its exposed coastal location

The report concluded that the current property was not deemed suitable for occupation.

Planners accepted the revised proposal with a variety of conditions.

Firstly, planners stipulated the chalet must only be used for holiday let purposes, with residents staying no more than 28 days and the same users not being re-let the property within a period of two months.

Development on the site cannot begin until planners have received and approved “final site setting out details” to protect local amenity.

Planners also required the applicant to provide samples of materials and a guarantee that all materials and waste from the construction would be stored away from the site.

Construction activity must also be conducted in such a way that safeguards the “visual amenity of the area”.