‘Rural’ house gets go ahead on appeal

Councillors have given the go ahead to a new house being built on a field used as an outdoor riding school despite planners arguing it was in ‘remote countryside’.

Applicant Brian McPhillips had said his plans for a new three-bedroom home in a field at Fallhills, Penicuik, should be approved as it would become part of an already established housing development next to the site known as Fallhills Court.

However planners described the site as ‘relatively remote countryside’ saying the nearest house would be 45 metres away.