Plans to build three 'armadillo' holiday huts within Edinburgh's Pentland Hills are set to be refused.
Ahead of a Development Management Sub-Committee meeting on Wednesday, April 26, planning officers within the council have recommended that the plans be turned down due to the potential impact on the area.
The proposals were submitted to the council in December 2022 on behalf of the owner of the adjacent site at East Rigg Farm, Balerno, to the west of the popular Threipmuir reservoir.
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According to the plans, three 'armadillo' style holiday lodges would be erected with private deck areas, associated landscaping and parking. They would be approximately four metres in height, 6.7 metres wide and ten metres in length.
Inside, each hut would comprise of a double bed, bathroom, kitchen and living space with access to an external timber deck. The lodges would be cladded in stained timber with large grey aluminium French Doors facing south.
The land on which the huts would be built upon previously had a range of non-native trees present which have now been harvested. The felled area has been cleared of stumps and the northern and western edges of the site are subject to a replanting plan.
Despite dozens of comments in support of the application online, officers have recommended to councillors that it be rejected due to the potential impact on the Pentland Hills regional park.
A segment of the agenda set to be put before councillors on Wednesday states: "The proposal is contrary to the Local Development Plan Policy in respect of Pentlands Hills Regional Park, as the design would detract from the special character of the area.
"The proposal is contrary to Local Development Plan - Development in the Green Belt, as a countryside location is not essential for a tourist accommodation use."
Other factors including the site not being accessible via public transport and harming the character of the area were also cited as potential reasons to refuse permission, however councillors will discuss in detail and may still agree to overrule the recommendation.
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