East Lothian Planning Committee convened on Tuesday, 01 April, to consider three planning applications, including proposals for holiday lodges and new housing developments.

One of the key decisions involved the approval of a plan to erect 22 holiday lodges at Whitekirk Hill, near North Berwick. Whitekirk Hill, a tourism and leisure facility previously known as Whitekirk Golf and Country Club, had already received outline planning permission in July 2020 for a maximum of 41 holiday lodges and associated developments. The site also includes a leisure club with restaurant, bar, café, gym, swimming pool, and children's play areas.

Permission for nine lodges had previously been granted in November 2020. The latest application sought approval for an additional 22 lodges, some of which had already been installed on the site, making the application partly retrospective. The phase two development comprises 12 three-bedroom lodges and 10 micro lodges with one bedroom each. Despite no objections being received, the application was approved with nine votes in favour and one abstention.

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The committee also approved, by a vote of nine to one, the erection of an agricultural building and vehicular access at Boggs Holdings, Pencaitland. This application was brought before the committee at the request of Councillor Akhtar due to local concerns, despite planners recommending approval. Seven letters of objection had been submitted, raising issues such as road safety, tree removal, and the size of the proposed shed. Following discussion, an additional condition was added to the planning consent, stipulating that agricultural vehicles must use the new access and not the lane currently used by residents.

Finally, a development of two new houses on the site of an existing house, 'Davanmore', on Gosford Road, Longniddry, was unanimously approved. Councillor Bruce had requested the application be considered by the committee due to concerns raised by Longniddry Community Council about potential overdevelopment. Five objections were received, citing concerns including loss of privacy for neighbouring properties and the site's capacity to accommodate two new properties. The plans for the two two-storey houses include front and back gardens, two off-street parking spaces each, driveways, stone paving external patios, and electric vehicle charging points. Following a site visit and committee debate, the plans were approved.