A COUPLE who were denied the chance to build their own family home earlier this year have been refused permission for a second time.

East Lothian Council turned down Gary MacPherson and Anna Smith’s plans for a home at Newmains, near Whitekirk, in March.

Now, after revised proposals were considered by the local authority, a second set of plans have met the same fate.

The council highlighted that no-one had objected to the plans for a four-bedroom house.

However, planning officials refused the application on three grounds, with each reason focusing on the development being a “new-build housing development in the countryside”.

Officers noted that the development would not be situated on brownfield land and it would not be “directly linked” to a rural business, farm or croft.

READ MORE: Planning officials turn down couple's bid for new home

Tony Thomas, of APT Planning and Development, who represent the applicants, disagreed and felt that the site did “not represent isolated or sporadic development in the countryside being part of an existing cluster of buildings”.

Similarly, it was claimed that the proposed development would have had “no significant impact” on the wider landscape setting.

A supporting statement included with the application highlighted the reasoning behind the proposals.

It reads: “Mr MacPherson was born and brought up in the area, attended the local schools and works locally as an estate gamekeeper.

“He very much wants to raise his family in the area.

“His elderly parents live close by and are increasingly dependent on his ongoing daily support.

“Ms Smith runs her own small business from home and as such does not travel for work.

“She would be based out of Newmains.

READ MORE: Couple seek approval for home near Whitekirk after ‘exhaustive search’

“Over the past few years, Anna and Gary have lived at Gay Cottage, one of the adjacent properties to the application site (the other being Grieves Cottage).

“During this time, they have undertaken an exhaustive search for a property suitable for a growing family, Gary’s job and work patterns whilst also acting as a base for Anna as a mother and entrepreneur.

“This search has looked at some of the many new-build properties across East Lothian, as well as ad hoc established properties that have become available nearby.

“The latter tend to be very expensive, whilst the former are not compatible with Gary’s occupation where he works unsociable hours and may be using estate-type vehicles on any given day (quad bike/four-wheel drives, etc).”

The owner of neighbouring Newmains Farm had offered to sell a plot of land to the couple to allow them to create “an attractive and sustainable family home”.