PLANS to build up to 150 homes on land earmarked for a public park were described as "too much icing on a cake" as they were rejected by councillors.
East Lothian Developments Ltd (ELDL), which has overseen plans to develop land on the outskirts of Wallyford, was told that enough was enough as it revised its masterplan to propose the housing on 11 acres which were set to be open space.
A meeting of East Lothian Council’s planning committee on Tuesday heard claims by the developers that there was enough amenity land and green spaces across the larger site to compensate for using part of the site to the south east of the larger housing estate for additional homes.
And they warned councillors that leaving the land unused could lead to it becoming “unloved” and attracting motorbike use at weekends.
However, councillors rejected their claims, with a number of committee members who were involved in the original masterplan for the site 15 years ago recalling that it had promised the new community a large public park on the land.
And Keith Dingwall, the council’s head of planning, reassured councillors that conditions in the original masterplans included introducing cycle paths, walkways and benches on the remaining undeveloped land for a future park.
'Used by motorbikes'
The land at Dolphingstone is part of a major development which has seen more than 2,000 new houses approved, along with a new secondary school and primary school, new sports pitches and amenity parks.
Original plans for the overall site included proposals for just over 1,000 homes but that figure doubled as revised applications were submitted and approved over the years.
Jonathan Brindle, from ELDL, told the meeting of the planning committee that the masterplan for the site had never been about "cramming as many houses as possible from west to east” on it but had included open spaces and amenity.
He said that, during the development of the site, they had learned of the negative impact that could come from having open spaces left.
He said: “One of the downsides of an unloved open space is that, when it does not have a clear purpose, it ended up being used by motorbikes at the weekend to the detriment of the community.”
'Too much icing on the cake'
Ward councillor Colin McGinn said that he was concerned by the proposal, which was described by developers as the "final phase" of the overall site.
He said: “One of the things constituents bring to me is the need for open space to play or walk, or just be in an area not overtaken by housing.
“I feel this [application] is pushing it too far.”
Councillors praised the work carried out on the larger development by ELDL working with the community and local authority over the years.
However, Musselburgh ward councillor Andy Forrest, the council's cabinet spokesperson for housing and property maintenance, told the developers that the latest proposal was too much.
He said: “It will be too much icing on the cake and will spoil it.”
Councillor Norman Hampshire, planning convenor and council leader, said that he recalled when the original masterplan was drawn up, including the public park on the site.
He said: “The ELDL original proposal to create a public park was the right proposal, and the proposal we have today with 150 houses is just wrong.”
Councillors unanimously backed officers' recommendations to refuse planning permission for additional houses on the site.
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