Two rural houses at Land At Stoneside Of Dripps Farm Cartside Highway, Thorntonhall

“The proposed house on the eastern plot would be positioned along the building line established by the two existing properties, with a wide driveway running along the side of the proposed house and parking within the rear garden area. The proposed house would be single storey in height with a hipped roof, and it comprise of 3 bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen/dining room.”

“The applicant has advised that these houses are intended to serve as accommodation for agricultural workers.”

“Site Description 2.1. The application site is non-contiguous and is split into two areas of land on opposite sides of the access road to Stoneside of Dripps Farm, at its junction with Cartside Highway, approximately 1.6km south-west of Thorntonhall.”

“There are two existing houses on the east side of the access road, close to the road junction, behind a recently installed gate across the access road. The space between the existing houses and the public road would form part of the application site, for the proposed eastern plot, with the other part of the site mirroring this position on the opposite side of the access road (the proposed western plot).”

“Relevant Planning History 4.1. There have been a number of recent planning applications submitted for Stoneside of Dripps Farm itself, including the planning refusals for the retrospective change of use of agricultural land to form an agricultural vehicle, plant and machinery sales yard, and the erection of two sheds (P/21/2155 and P/24/1049), and an approval for the erection of 7 new agricultural sheds in March 2024 (P/23/0789). Consent was also approved…”

“More specifically, planning consent was refused at the Planning Committee meeting of 20 May 2025 for a very similar application at this same site for the erection of two houses (P/24/1300). A subsequent appeal to the Planning and Environmental Appeal Division of the Scottish Government was dismissed (PPA-380-2131).”

“In addition, there are existing buildings neighbouring the site, but it is not considered that this limited number of structures could be considered as a ‘building group’, and they do not form a clearly identifiable nucleus with strong visual cohesion given their limited numbers and the overall setting. The proposal would double the size of this ‘group’ and spread it to the opposite side of the access road without justification.”

“Given the above, it is considered that the proposed dwellinghouses have not been appropriately justified in terms of their position within the designated green belt and that the proposal would represent an unjustified loss of green belt land. In addition, the unjustified dwellings would encourage more private car journeys due to their green belt setting, and there would be an adverse impact upon biodiversity from the development of this site.”

“Consultations 6.1. Roads Development Management – have raised no objections to the proposal, subject to conditions on parking spaces, EV charging, and visibility splays being imposed, and the removal of the existing gated field accesses. Response: Noted. These matters could be addressed on the decision notice if the application was to be approved.”

“Environmental Services – have raised no objections to the proposal subject to conditions regarding dust management and construction noise, and the inclusion of relevant advisory notes. Response: Noted. These matters could be addressed on the decision notice if the application was to be approved.”

“P/26/0029 for Erection of 2 Houses, the Formation of 2 New Vehicular Accesses and Associated Works at Land at Stoneside of Dripps Farm, Cartside Highway, Thorntonhall A report dated 5 May 2026 by the Executive Director (Community and Enterprise Resources) was submitted on planning application P/26/0029 by Carnbroe Estates Limited for the erection of 2 houses, the formation of 2 new vehicular accesses and associated works at land at Stoneside of Dripps Farm, Cartside Highway,…”

“The Committee decided: that planning application P/26/0029 by Carnbroe Estates Limited for the erection of 2 houses, the formation of 2 new vehicular accesses and associated works at land at Stoneside of Dripps Farm, Cartside Highway, Thorntonhall be refused for the reasons detailed in the Executive Director’s report.”