Retrospective boundary fence at Thorniedean House, Galashiels
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Scottish Borders Planning and Building Standards Committee on 10 Aug 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought retrospective consent for a 1.8-metre timber fence along the roadside boundary of a listed dwelling.
“The fence is not in keeping with the character of the Listed boundary walls, railings and gatepiers, which contribute strongly to the special interest of Thorniedean House and positively to the streetscape of Melrose Road. The new curtilage defined by the fence does not follow the historic layout and instead projects down the side of the property, so reading as an arbitrary and non-historic subdivision, weakening the legibility of the building's original setting.”
“This application seeks retrospective consent for a 1.8 metre high timber fence erected along the westerly roadside boundary of a Category C Listed dwellinghouse (Thorniedean House). The fence flanks Langhaugh Lane.”
Officer report
The site
The fence flanks Langhaugh Lane and encloses the house’s curtilage, extending south to former college buildings.
“The fence is high, long, and prominent from Langhaugh Lane. It has irregular panel heights and posts that do not align, and it does not relate fluently with the height of the existing stone wall. It would be visible from Melrose Road, but this visibility is not as substantial as that from Langhaugh Lane. It encloses the curtilage of the house and extends southwards to include the site of former Borders College buildings.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended refusal because the fence’s siting, height and design harmed the listed building’s setting and did not meet planning policies.
“The fence does not comply with Policies PMD2 or EP7 of the Local Development Plan, or Policies 7 and 14 of National Planning Framework 4 as a result of its prominent siting, height and design/construction. The adverse impact that results is not overridden sufficiently by other material considerations.”
“1 The fence does not comply with Policies PMD2 or EP7 of the Local Development Plan, or Policies 7 and 14 of National Planning Framework 4 as a result of its prominent siting, height and design/construction. The adverse impact that results is not overridden sufficiently by other material considerations.”
Officer report
What was decided
The appointed officer’s refusal was overturned, subject to conditions.
“25/01426/FUL – Decision of Appointed Officer Overturned, Subject to Conditions;”
Minutes
The members' reasons
The minutes do not record the members' reasons for departing from the officers' recommendation.
Sources
- Scottish Borders Planning and Building Standards Committee minutes, 10 August 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Scottish Borders's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Scottish Borders
- Date
- Monday 10 August 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended refusal
- Committee decided
- Approved, against officer advice
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Scottish Borders committee decisions →
This committee's year
28 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 7 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.