An award-winning farmer has won his battle to establish a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle on agricultural land in Midlothian despite local concerns over access.
George Pirie was initially refused planning permission to build a house and agricultural buildings on land at Whitehill Farm, near Dalkeith, after officers ruled it did not meet their restrictive policies for new homes in the countryside.
However after an appeal was made to the council's Local Review Body today, the decision was overturned as elected members welcomed the return of a farm to the community.
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The review body heard from a team of agricultural experts who supported Mr Pirie's bid to bring his cattle, which are currently housed offsite, onto the land he has owned since 2018.
Colin McPhail, a farming business consultant, said Mr Pirie's plans would establish a breeding programme for the herd with "high value cattle and cutting edge and highly innovative techniques".
And he said it was vital to animal welfare and security that a house was built for a farm worker to oversee the cattle at all times.
He said: "Animal welfare is key to onsite accommodation and it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide proper animal welfare on site
"Also there are significant security and fire reasons for having a farmer onsite due to many recent examples of on farm security locally.”
Planners received 14 letters of objection from residents of Whitehill village with many concerned about plans to access the site from historic Roman road Dere Street with a long access road built through the field to reach the planned buildings at the far end.
The review body heard from three residents who objected to the plans.
Douglas Elder told the meeting: “I am concerned part of the reason we are getting this development is it is just leverage. We will get one house, then it will be another house.”
And fellow residents Carol Ferguson said: "Dere Street is a really important historic road and we enjoy some of the best views in the country.
“I don’t think there has been any real consideration for the pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, of which there are very many who come up this street.”
However Councillor Connor McManus moved a motion to uphold the appeal saying he had heard enough from the applicant to be convinced the farm business and house were needed.
He was backed by Councillor Colin Cassidy who said: "The one thing that concerns me in society today is the loss of farming in this area. This is a traditional farming area and to bring this specialist herd to Midlothian is a boon to our community.
“I completely appreciate the concerns of the neighbours and can only say it is never as bad as you think it is going to be. I think this will be a massive improvement."
Mr Pirie received support from the farming community with the editor of Farm North East Edwin Gillanders saying the project would create a facility which will be "a show piece for the Aberdeen Angus herd".
The review body upheld the appeal allowing the house and agricultural buildings to go ahead.
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