Angus Council planning officials have knocked back a country house bid by a leading figure in the authority’s last administration.
Angus Macmillan Douglas hoped to build his retirement pad in a field beside the village of Douglastown, between Forfar and Glamis.
He was a Conservative councillor for Kirriemuir and the previous ruling group’s deputy leader and finance spokesman.
The 75-year-old former BP HR director wanted to build a two-storey, four bedroom house complete with tennis court in a field at Brigton.
Long-standing family link
His family connections there go back three centuries.
But planners rejected the idea of using farmland as a site for the executive home.
Mr Macmillan Douglas says he accepts the planning officials’ “well thought through” reasons for the rejection.
The field he hoped to build on is beside Brigton farmhouse, right on the edge of Douglastown.
His application suggested the land was a gap site between the farmhouse and the edge of the village.
But planning officials said it breached policy because the greenfield site is outside the development boundary.
Delegated ruling
“It is suggested that there is a social benefit in allowing the applicant to retire in surroundings which are in his ownership and where the family has a long-standing connection,” said the delegated decision.
“There is no evidence to suggest the applicant would suffer significant hardship if planning permission was refused and, in these circumstances, the personal circumstances of the applicant are given little weight.
“There is certainly no evidence to suggest the erection of a single house to meet a private interest would be in the wider public interest.”
Design criticised
And officials were not impressed by the design of the house.
They did not like the property’s multi-pitched roof with a variety of eaves and dormers.
“In this case, design is a secondary consideration as the principle of development is contrary to development plan policy,” they said.
“However, the design does not reflect and complement traditional properties in the area.
“The traditional properties at Brigton, some properties in Douglastown, and properties in nearby Kirkton of Kinnettles provide a distinctive form that could inform the design of new development in the area.
“It may be an appropriate design for an urban area, but it is not appropriate for a countryside location.”
Appeal option
Mr Macmillan Douglas said: “I take a grown up view of these things.
“You apply for planning permission, the planners come up with a well thought through reason for refusal and that is life.
“There was a counter argument my architect very much promoted that it was a gap site and would round off the buildings group.
“But the planners did not see it that way.
“Those are the rules and you must accept them.”
Mr Macmillan Douglas could appeal the refusal to the council’s development management review committee.
“It’s something I will discuss with my architect, but probably won’t appeal,” he said.
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