A GROUND-FLOOR flat owner has been given the go-ahead to operate it as a holiday let after planners ruled it would not disturb the neighbours.

The owner of the four-bedroom property on Marine Parade, North Berwick, said that it had been used as a short-term holiday home since 2019 without any incidents or complaints.

And planners were happy to formally approve the change of use, pointing out that the property was self-contained with its own entrance.

They told applicant Anne McMenigall, who it was revealed also owned and stayed in the flat upstairs, that they did not believe the holiday use would be significantly different to the property being residential because there was no communal hallway.

They said: “Although the property could occupy up to eight persons, this would not be different to the level of occupancy that could occur if the property was to remain in use as a residential flat. 

“Therefore although the use of the property as a unit of holiday letting accommodation would to some extent change the nature of its use, by its degree of self-containment and by its level of occupancy, the use of the property as a unit of holiday letting accommodation would not be so dissimilar to the occupation of the property as a permanent residential flat as to be harmful to the character of the area or to the amenity of the neighbouring properties.”