Monday February 9th 2026
Wakefield House, West Linton
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Approval is being sought to confirm the legal use of a secluded Borders country house as a short-term holiday let.
Applicant Nearly Nowhere Ltd, the owner of Wakefield House in West Linton, has submitted an application to Scottish Borders Council for a Certificate of Lawfulness.
Wakefield House is a substantial detached country house set within extensive private grounds to the north of West Linton, forming part of a rural landholding of approximately 43 acres, including gardens, woodland glen and grazing land.
The property property features a traditional stone-built farmhouse core dating from around 1840, combined with a later extension completed in 1997.
A Certificate of Lawfulness (or Lawful Development Certificate – LDC) is a legal document from a local planning authority confirming that an existing or proposed use, building, or operational development is lawful for planning purposes.
It proves a project is legal, often immune from enforcement action, or complies with permitted development.
The certificate also protects against future enforcement action by the local planning authority if a breach, such as unauthorised building or change of use, has existed for a period of up to ten years.
A submission from Ferguson Planning states: “The applicant confirms that the property has been in continuous use as short-term let accommodation for a period exceeding ten years.
“Booking records demonstrate regular guest occupation throughout this period.
“This use has taken place openly, continuously and without interruption, forming an established pattern of holiday-letting activity.
“As such, the short-term letting activity constitutes a settled and lawful use that now benefits from immunity under the 10-year rule and qualifies for a Certificate of Lawfulness.
“Even during the Covid-19 period, although the number of bookings decreased due to national restrictions, the records show that short-term letting activity continued, with completed stays and ongoing management of the listing.
“The commercial short-term letting function was never halted, and the property did not revert to residential occupation.”
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