A housebuilder ordered to remove a giant advertising board by planners amid claims it was too far away from the homes it was promoting has appealed to Scottish Ministers to intervene.

Bellway Homes was refused retrospective planning permission for the sign next to housing they are building on the edge of Elphinstone in December last year.

The company’s Elfenne Gardens development of 90 three and four-bedroom homes, north of Main Street at Castlehill, on the village’s western edge, is currently under construction.

Developers were first refused planning permission for the sign, which was erected last July, in October last year before resubmitting the application, this time with a supporting statement which said that a similar sign for the development at Blindwells was given permission on the edge of the A1.

However, planners said in their decision to again reject the application in December, that the sign was “dominant, intrusive and out of place” in its current location.

READ MORE: Developers ordered to remove large sign as planning permission refused

East Lothian Council’s planners objected to its location saying it was in an “isolated position distant from the houses it advertises”.

Bellway has now hit back claiming that while it is not directly next to houses already being built, it is on a site which is subject to a planning application for a further 100 of their homes.

And they have submitted a photograph of the sign to Scottish Ministers which appears to show houses under construction a short distance away.

In an appeal against the council’s decision, agents for Bellway say: “The planning officer states in his report that his reason for not supporting the signage relates to the fact that the northern part of the site is currently undeveloped.

“Whilst the signage may appear somewhat remote from the dwelling houses when viewed in plan form, the photograph above clearly demonstrates that this is not the case and as such it does not result in a harmful effect on the visual amenity of the area.”

READ MORE: Housing development on the outskirts of Elphinstone may double in size

A spokesperson for Bellway also told the Courier that the sign should be approved given similar signs have been approved at other locations in East Lothian.

The sign measures 9.15m wide and 3m high and is supported by aluminium posts 6.5m in height. 

They said: “We’re disappointed in the decision to refuse advertisement consent as our application included a supporting statement clearly showing similar signage in situ elsewhere in East Lothian. However, we instructed our planning consultant to lodge an appeal with the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division who will determine the outcome by early summer if not before.”

Council planners had said they receive five objections to the sign with complaints about its size, prominence and the noise it made when it rained or was windy among them.

One objector said that there was no need for the sign as there was only one road in and out of Elphinstone and it was unlikely people coming to visit the development would get lost.

Councillor Lee-Anne Menzies, ward member for the village, said she refused to meet with Bellway to discuss their development stating that she did not think it would be productive.

She told the Courier: “They have had the chance to discuss this already. I have sent emails, made phone calls and there has been no desire for conversation from Bellway.

“The sign was a joke to begin with and they have not listened to the concerns of residents in Elphinstone. There has been no consideration given to them."

“I refused to meet with them because I don’t want to waste my time. Bellway have shown time and time again that they don’t care.”

Ms Menzies said she also had concerns about how new residents at the development would be welcomed in Elphinstone.

She added: “I think because of this there is a concern that it will be a case of us and them when it comes to the new residents and that is not good. It’s not the new residents’ fault Bellway has acted this way.

“This could cause division.”

In their appeal to Scottish Ministers, Bellway responded to objector claims saying the sign was needed for marketing as well as directional assistance.

The appeal will be assigned to a Scottish Government Reporter for determination. Ms Menzies and some Elphinstone residents have written to the Scottish Government Reporter calling for them to reject the application.