A HOME in “a state of severe disrepair” will be torn down to make way for a replacement.

A list of “ailments” was given to members of East Lothian Council’s planning committee for Bonard, on Dunbar’s Belhaven Road.

Large patches of damp, structural cracks, black mould and collapsed sections of the roof were all highlighted in a report to members earlier this month.

Councillor Donna Collins, who represents the town on the local authority, had asked if any grants could be given from various bodies to help restore the house.

However, the property, which dates back to the early 1900s, is neither listed nor in a conservation area.

Mrs Collins listed the various flaws in the building and was not convinced it could be restored “unless you pump £1 million or £2 million” into it.

She said: “Yesterday’s site visit was extremely helpful because I was conflicted on how it was going to go because this has been a part of Dunbar for such a long time.

“I looked back at maps and I could not find it anywhere before 1880, that was about it.

“There were things there but it did not actually say if it was Bonard or not.

“Yesterday’s visit showed us that there is extensive damage to the building and it has been neglected for at least 10 years.”

READ MORE: ‘Neglected’ Dunbar property could be demolished to make way for home

Members of the community had expressed hopes that the building could be saved.

However, councillors were told that repairs to the property would involve stripping it back, due to its current condition.

Instead, the application proposed demolishing the home and creating a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half storey building in its place.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, who represents the town on East Lothian Council, chaired the planning committee.

Members had visited the property earlier in the week and Mr Hampshire said: “On the site visit, we saw the house was in really, really poor condition.

“I think the carbon footprint would come from trying to restore that building.

“Not only that but the cost of doing that would be huge.

“The balance is whether you agree to demolish the existing building and put a much more energy-efficient building onto the site, because this building could never be energy efficient the way it has been designed.

“That is a decision for the committee today.”

Drawings of the layout of the new building show a living room and study on the ground floor, alongside a kitchen/dining/lounge, utility room and WC.

Upstairs features two en-suite bedrooms, with one also featuring a dressing room, as well as two further bedrooms.

It was also proposed to set the home further back from Belhaven Road.

Councillor Andy Forrest also backed the planning officials’ recommendation to approve David Calder’s plans.

He said: “In some ways, you would love to save all the buildings that are there but you actually have to draw a line on what becomes economically viable.”

Jacquie Bell, a member of Dunbar’s community council, also attended the meeting and referenced the community interest the plans had attracted when they were first submitted.

She said: “Following the story in the Courier, there was a lot of concern about the future of Bonard from the community.

“It was felt important that the fate of this iconic building should be decided by the committee rather than through delegated powers.”