A top lawyer has lost a battle to build a new gym at his luxury home after dozens of furious neighbours complained.
Ian Truscott KC, 73, hoped to construct a double garage that would include a gym and storage area once the old garage had been bulldozed. Truscott has been a member of the Faculty of Advocates for more than 25 years and has appeared in many high profile cases including the Piper Alpha inquiry.
His villa in the plush Morningside area of Edinburgh is believed to be valued at around £1.9m. But he was met with fierce opposition from residents who claimed their conservation area neighbourhood would be impacted by the construction. More than 40 objections were made with some neighbours claiming their homes would be impacted if it was given the green light.
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Truscott submitted plans to the City of Edinburgh Council but was told the development would 'fail to preserve or enhance' the conservation area. He appealed to the Scottish Government who have now upheld the council's decision.
Objector Colin Robertson said: "The planning application is devoid of dimensions to which the development can be held and contains details that are only meaningful for later conversion to living accommodation.
"The proposed development is harmful to the architectural integrity of the street and contravenes the principles of the conservation area."
William Forbes said: "If completed, the proposed building would have a negative and permanent effect on this beautiful street."
Linda Forbes added: "The proposed development is out of character with the rest of the street as the sub division of the plot opposes the planned spaces between the villas."
Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Daniel Johnson, wrote a letter supporting the neighbours after a number of them had contacted him. He said: "After speaking with my constituents, I am satisfied with the concerns that they hold about the proposed planning application and the impact this would have on the surrounding houses."
In his appeal to the government, Truscott said: "It is for a use and of a scale and form that fits within the conservation area within which it is located.
"It preserves the character and setting of the conservation area at this location."
One neighbour backed his move and claimed the new double garage reflected the original villa better than the '1960s garage' it would replace. The council had earlier said: "The proposal in scale, form and design will be incongruous in the context of its historic environment and will fail to preserve the character or appearance of the conservation area."
Government reporter Ailie Callan said: "I find that the proposal would detrimentally impact on the character of the street scene and wider neighbourhood."
Truscott qualified as a solicitor in 1973 and has appeared in courts all over the UK and in the European Court of Justice.
He was approached for comment.
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