LOCAL councillors have shared "grave concerns" after flooding fears failed to sink plans for 26 new homes in a Borders village.
A planning application for seven affordable housing units and 19 open market homes was submitted to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) by David Harrison Ltd for a greenfield site at Burnside.
The land is allocated for housing in the local authority’s local development plan (LDP) despite concerns over the area being "prone" to flooding.
SEPA initially issued a holding objection to the plans but that was subsequently withdrawn.
The environment protection agency stated that the risk of flooding was directly linked to channel erosion and that management of the site would reduce potential residual impacts.
Members of SBC’s Planning & Building Standards Committee voted five to three in favour of the developments construction on Monday (September 9).
Tweeddale East councillor Marshall Douglas told The Border Telegraph that he “reluctantly” supported the application, “I do have grave concerns over the flooding element. I think it is a very serious issue in that area. This is an area very prone to flooding.
Jedburgh councillor Sandy Scott explained that she has “no objection to this, I think SEPA and our flood officer have given it the okay, but would I buy a house on a flood plain? No, so I think we have to have a wee bit of buyer beware. If you think it’s going to flood then don’t buy the house.”
“That having been said, SEPA appear to be happy with the suggested conditions and as long as those conditions are in place I think that from a planning point of view, and it is part of the LDP, then yes I would probably reluctantly go along with this, but it is a case of ‘buyer beware’.”
Tweeddale West councillor Viv Thomson added that she is "surprised with SEPA, to be very honest, that they have removed their concern. I don’t support the application because I think it’s not just those houses, it is impacting other houses in the village with the flooding risk.”
