A TOWN centre holiday let which has been operating for nearly six years has been refused permission to continue.

The property at 70a High Street, Haddington, has been used as a short-term holiday let continuously since April 2018.

However, Carlene MacNair’s bid for a certificate of lawfulness for the property has been turned down by East Lothian Council.

The local authority’s planning department received no objections to the proposals for the one-bedroom, first-floor premises.

Documents included within the planning application said: “Its central position in Haddington also provides easy access to public transport connections to Edinburgh, Dunbar and Musselburgh, making it attractive to both tourists and business visitors.”

A planning statement said the property could “comfortably” accommodate up to two adults, while house rules were communicated to guests during the booking process, reiterated on arrival and stated in the welcome book.

'Logical' outcome

The document notes: “Good relations are maintained with neighbours, with guests and neighbours having direct access to the host’s contact details for any concerns.”

Agents representing the applicant described it as the “logical” outcome to grant the certificate of lawfulness.

However, the planning officials had concerns and turned down the application.

The officer’s report reads: “The use of the applicant’s flat as a unit of short-term holiday let accommodation by a maximum of two guests would not be too dissimilar to the number of residents that could occupy the property in a residential use.

“However, as the flat is advertised on holiday rental platforms, coupled with the frequency of the arrival and departures of guests at various times and the movements associated with the changeovers and cleaning between guest stays, this would lead to a different movement pattern which is incomparable with the use of the flat as a principal residence.

“Based on this information, it is considered that the use of the applicant’s first-floor flat for short-term holiday let accommodation constitutes a material change of use, requiring planning permission, where a lawful use cannot otherwise be demonstrated.”