Tourist lodges plan fails to get the green light
Controversial plans for a new equestrian-related tourist development near St Andrews have been turned down by a Scottish Government planning appeals reporter.
- By Gordon Berry
- Published in the Courier : 24.08.10
- Published online : 24.08.10 @ 03.03pm
The proposal from farmer John Raeside was for construction of 20 tourist lodges and an extension to a large shed at Brownhills Farm beside the main East Neuk coast road.
It ran into strong opposition from St Andrews Community Council and St Andrews Preservation Trust and was rejected by Fife Council's north-east Fife area committee against the advice of officials.
In his decision letter reporter David Buylla says the main issues are whether the principle of development is acceptable, the proposal's landscape and visual impact, its effect on road safety and its implications for the future designation of a green belt around St Andrews.
He said that regeneration and partnerships officers advise that there is a national growth in equestrian-related holidays, for which there is limited provision in the area.
This, he said, suggested that some users of the proposed lodges would also use the equestrian facilities and on-site holiday accommodation would support the existing equestrian operation and further diversify the appellant's farming operations.
Mr Buylla said that overall he is satisfied that there is sufficient justification for the principle of this type of development in the countryside location.
He had a different view on some landscape issues, however, and said that the site of the proposed lodges would be seen from a short stretch of the B9131 to the south-west and from a considerable length of the approach to the site along the A917 from the east.
From both directions the lodge site would appear detached from the existing building group, he added.
Inappropriate
"Built development here would be inappropriate unless completely screened by landscaping," the reporter said.
"The draft site layout plan shows a number of earth mounds surrounding a circular arrangement of lodges and an area of tree, shrub and meadow planting. The proposed mounds would not echo the scale of the gently rolling contours of the surrounding landscape.
"Their incongruous and clearly man-made appearance would detract from its quality."
He added that although the appellant intends the development to resemble a small patch of woodland, he is not convinced that it would screen the lodges completely, even when fully mature.
Mr Buylla said total screening is essential if the development is not to harm the quality of the landscape. He therefore said it would be inappropriate to grant planning permission in principle when insufficient details of screening have been provided and when the earth mounds are themselves unacceptable.
Mr Buylla said that while the proposal would support existing diversification activities and would provide up to four additional jobs, positive aspects of the scheme do not outweigh the harmful landscape impact of the proposed lodges and associated screening.
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