Plans to build on grazing land near West Calder have been rejected by West Lothian Council.
Carolyn Watson, speaking for the applicants, a farming family that owns the land, had argued that the two fields were no longer viable as grazing because of growing costs. The family had applied for planning permission to build 17 houses on the site, south of West Mains Crofts near West Calder.
Mrs Watson told a meeting of West Lothian Council’s Planning Committee the fields were not suitable for growing crops and had been used to graze cattle and sheep. However the land still needs to be fertilised and the cost of fertiliser has gone from £250 a tonne to £900 a tonne. Added to this was the costs of diesel travelling from the family home near Dechmont and back, a 22 mile round trip.
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The family used eight tonnes of fertiliser a year to maintain the fields for grazing which had seen costs rise to £7,200 annually. This was no longer sustainable. She told the committee she believed the plan for housing was green as some 55% of the 40 acre site would be retained as green space.
The land is designated as open countryside though bounded by a lowland croft site. There were five objections including one from West Calder and Harburn Community Council.
Planning officers also objected, saying that the proposals did not meet any of the exceptions to justify development in open countryside.
In a report to the committee planning officer Matthew Watson said: “The application site is characterised by being open countryside with wide views across the surrounding countryside.
“The proposed development will fundamentally alter the character of the site to a suburbanised environment. The proposal will not, therefore, integrate with its local context and built form and will have an adverse impact on local landscape character.”
An agent for the applicant, Tommy Cochrane, argued that surrounding lowland croft developments mean the new homes could not be classed as sporadic development. “We would fit in with crofts already there,” he added.
However Council Leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick pointed out that the council had already given the Scottish Government “pretty robust” responses in the latest consultation on new planning and development rules expected to be published later this year.
He added: “We sought to enshrine the right of the protection of the countryside which is very, very dear to a lot of people.”
Councillor Pauline Clark recommended refusal saying the proposals to plant trees to hide the houses would also block the views of the open countryside and would not “ be appropriate” . “I would move that we refuse development based on the reasons given in the paper.” The committee agreed
