Workshop, stable and pods at Old Lanark Road, Braidwood, Carluke

“Description of Proposed Development 3.1. The proposal is for the erection of a workshop, stable, lodge/caravan and 3 tourist accommodation pods off Old Lanark Road, Braidwood to provide a tourism business offering bike and horse hire to explore the local countryside. The land on which the development is proposed is currently an overgrown field which has no obvious indication of any previous use.”

“The applicant proposes to erect a 16 metre long by 7 metre deep workshop to the northern side of the site for bicycle and site maintenance/repairs and an office. All other buildings will be located to the south western side of the site in a row along the boundary. This will include a lodge/caravan approximately 13.5 metres by 5.6 metres, which will provide accommodation for staff, and could be used as additional tourist accommodation if needed.”

“Site Description 2.1. The application site is located off an unadopted section of Old Lanark Road, between Goremire Road and Boghall Road, Braidwood. The site itself is a roughly triangular wedge of land, extending to approximately 1,650 square metres in area. It is currently overgrown and covered in vegetation, including a number of large trees.”

“Old Lanark Road is a single lane track from Goremire Road to the site and the continuation to Boghall Road becomes a narrow footpath. There are trees and a small burn running along Old Lanark Road. However, there is a break in the trees, where the watercourse is piped underground, at the proposed access to the site, suggesting it has been used previously as an access.”

“However, part (ii) states that reasons must be provided as to why a green belt location is essential and why the proposal cannot be located on an alternative site outwith the green belt. Whilst the applicant has provided justification for the location of the proposal in their supporting statement in terms of the site having a close proximity to core paths, bridleways and national cycling routes, a greenbelt location is not considered essential and, as such, the…”

“In terms of Local Development Plan (LDP) policy, the application site lies within the green belt and is subject to assessment against Policy 4 - Green Belt and Rural Area of the adopted SLLDP2. The policy states that the primary function of the green belt is for agriculture, forestry, recreation and other uses appropriate to the countryside.”

“Consultations 6.1. Roads and Transportation Services (Development Management) – no objection to the proposal subject to the imposition of standard conditions relating to visibility, drainage, parking and access. Response: Noted…”

“Environmental Services – have raised concerns in relation to the ironstone mining and have advised that a riding establishment licence would be required, and that a caravan site licence may also be required. If the application was to be approved, they would ask for a contamination survey to be carried out in relation to the ironstone mining works. Response: Noted…”

“Representations 7.1. Following the statutory period of neighbour notification and advertisement, no representations have been received.”

“There followed a discussion on the application during which an officer responded to a member’s questions on aspects of the report.”

“The Committee decided: that planning application P/24/1277 by A Shelby for the erection of a workshop, stable, lodge/caravan and 3 tourist accommodation pods at land 33 metres east of Meadow Cottage, access from Goremire Road to Green Towers Road, formerly Old Lanark Road, Braidwood, Carluke be refused for the reasons detailed in the Executive Director’s report.”