The Scottish Government has appointed a Reporter to consider plans for a second home to be built on a West Lothian smallholding site.
Broxburn man Gordon Bow appealed against a refusal of plans in July. Mr Bow, who is terminally ill, wants to build a home for his son at his smallholding to help look after him.
Appeal and Appointment
This week the Division of Environment and Planning Appeals (DPEA) appointed Aileen Mcluckie to review the decision made last month by West Lothian Council’s Development Management Committee.
Mr Bow was backed by Conservative group leader Damian Doran-Timson at the July meeting when he urged fellow councillors to allow the applicant extra time to revise plans for a new home at the smallholding at 11 Holmes Holdings, south of Broxburn.
Council Decision and Concerns
Planners said the proposals encroached on to the countryside, and the two storey design would be out of place. The application was refused.
Councillor Angela Doran-Timson, who represents Mr Bow’s Broxburn ward, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she did not believe that the applicant had had a “fair hearing” because of the deleted number of councillors at the meeting.
Only three councillors were at the Development Management Committee meeting in July. A fourth joined remotely. Another two were on holiday and a third is undergoing training to sit on the committee.
Applicant’s Situation
Mr Bow’s plans would have seen partial demolition of a tractor shed at the smallholding and a replacement home for his son to allow family to be closer to him. As Mr Bow explained at the time the existing house at the smallholding has only three bedrooms.
Mr Bow told the LDRS: “I have a terminal illness and I need my family near me to help. I just don’t think we had a fair hearing.”
A decision by the DPEA Reporter is expected in the Autumn.
