A new porch extension with its own toilet has been given the go ahead on appeal, after planners rejected it as too big.
The owners of the house on Crichton Avenue, Pathhead, were refused planning permission for their new porch, which included a WC and storage area, in January this year.
However an appeal to Midlothian Council's Local Review Body this week saw the decision overturned after councillors were persuaded the extension would not have a detrimental impact on neighbouring houses or the character of the street.
Agents for the applicants submitted a dossier of images of other properties across Midlothian where similar extensions had been approved in the past to support their appeal.
And they pointed out their client's house was on a corner site giving it a large garden which meant the porch would not have a significant impact.
Midlothian planning officers had said the extension, which measured 3.5 metres by 4.1 metres was 'too big' to be a front porch.
Refusing planning permission in January they said: "Extensions to the fronts of houses are generally approved if they are small and sympathetically designed;.
"The majority of such extensions are front porches, a main purpose of which is to give added protection to the entrance door to the house, and usually these do not project more than 2 metres from the front wall of the original house."
However photographs of houses in Dalkeith, Gorebridge, Penicuik and Pathhead itself were submitted showing a range of extensions to the front and side of properties which were allowed to go ahead in the past.
The agents told the review body: "It would seem therefore that there exists a precedent for many examples of alterations and extensions within Midlothian council to the front and side of similar types of houses, within groupings and street scenes."
The review body upheld the appeal and granted planning permission for the extension.
READ NEXT:
Midlothian primary school needs new temporary classroom to cope with influx of pupils
Public to name Midlothian's new 'magnificent beast' of a pothole fixer
New Midlothian community campus plans welcomed by councillors
Midlothian Council confirms new 20mph zones set to be implemented in towns and villages
Drone image shows Midlothian cottage engulfed by new housing development
