Two dwellings at Bankfield Farm, Glenluce, Newton Stewart

What was proposed

Planning permission in principle was sought for two single-storey three-bedroom homes, with gardens, septic tanks, soakaways and a new access.

“The application relates to a greenfield site lying within the settlement boundary and currently utilised for grazing purposes and classified as 3.2 within the Hutton Institute's Land Capability for Agriculture scale. Accessed via a field gate off Bankfield Road (U56w public road) which terminates at a shared private way, Glenluce Primary School and its associated curtilage lies due west with the A75 trunk road running parallel to the southern boundary of the field.”

“Planning permission in principle is sought for the erection of two dwellings with private garden ground, with indicative drawings depicting single storey 3 bedroomed dwellings with individual septic tanks and soakaways serving the properties. Proposed finishes include uPVC anthracite grey windows, doors and rainwater goods, wet dash render and natural slate. A new access would be formed to serve the dwellings.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Two homes were recently approved elsewhere in the field, while an earlier glamping-pod application for this site was withdrawn after a refusal recommendation.

“Whilst the immediate site within the field has not previously benefited from planning permission, permission has been granted recently for the erection of two…”

“PUBLIC PUBLIC dwellings elsewhere within the same field boundary under planning references 25/1165/PIP and 25/1157/FUL and construction has started on the latter. The specific site under consideration formed part of a recent planning application (reference 25/1914/FUL) which sought permission for the change of use of agricultural land for the siting of six glamping pods with associated decked areas and ground mounted solar panels, installation of shared septic tank and…”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The community council supported the proposal, while air traffic, water, flood-risk and roads consultees raised no objections, subject to a roads condition.

“Council Flood Risk Management Team – No objections.”

“Council Roads Team – No objections subject to condition.”

Officer report

Objections from residents

Fourteen objections raised concerns about amenity, construction disturbance, access, greenfield loss, ecology, brownfield policy and drainage.

“The grounds of objection received can be summarised as follows: a) the development would give rise to significant detriment to neighbouring amenity in terms of overlooking, overshadowing, noise, light pollution and privacy. b) neighbouring residents would experience disruption during construction in terms of noise and disturbance. c) the existing access is already restricted and not suitable for construction / additional traffic.”

“PUBLIC PUBLIC e) the development would be detrimental to local ecology, specifically deer, badgers, birds of prey, bats and pollinators due to a loss of habitat. f) the proposal fails to accord with policy in that it has not prioritised re-using brownfield land over the greenfield site. g) developing the site in this manner would cause drainage issues to neighbouring properties.”

Officer report

People who spoke

The committee heard from two objectors and the agent.

The committee decision

The committee approved the application subject to completing a legal agreement within six months, conditions and future applications returning to committee.

“APPROVED application 26/0246/PIP subject to (A) the successful completion of the appropriate legal agreement within 6 months of the date of the decision or such other reasonable extended timescale as agreed by the appointed officer and (B) conditions and FURTHER AGREED that any future applications at this location be brought back to this Committee for consideration.”

Minutes