Monday March 16th 2026
Wakefield House in West Linton which will be turned into a new five-star luxury wellness retreat
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The green light was given today for a new five-star luxury wellness retreat in West Linton.
When members of Scottish Borders Council’s Planning & Building Standards Committee met on Monday, March 16, they were recommended to reject an appeal against refusal of the retreat at Wakefield House near Medwyn Road.
But members granted the appeal after highlighting the retreat’s benefits for the region’s tourist economy.
The appeal was made by a small local family business, Davoch Developments Ltd.
The application had originally been refused on the grounds that the increased traffic associated with this development would negatively impact road and pedestrian safety.
Councillor Eric Small, Conservative for Tweeddale West, said: “I think this tourist accommodation will obviously benefit the community.
“There are concerns over road safety but I I don’t think this holiday accommodation is going to impact greatly on the volume of traffic and I think it can be mitigated.”
Chair Councillor Marshall Douglas, SNP for Tweeddale East, added: “I take on-board the potential busyness of the road but then again you have to assume that if it is a fairly narrow road with an increase in traffic the drivers would drive accordingly to the conditions.
“The development is impressive and looks like the kind of thing we should be encouraging for the Borders, creating jobs and bringing new people into the area.”
The one dissenting voice came from Tweeddale West’s SNP councillor Viv Thomson, who, while acknowledging that the proposal was a good one, said it could not be justified “at all costs”.
She added: “It is not only the visitors who will be using the facilities, there will be deliveries and there is the potential to hold corporate events there, so there will be an increase in traffic.
“There is a significant number of houses on that road, there is a golf club and further up there is a business running from that road as well, it is used by cyclists and dog walkers and children going to school.”
The plan is to create a hub with six cabins on land next to Wakefield House, which has been a holiday let home in recent years.
Scottish Tourism Alliance, South of Scotland Destination Alliance and UK Hospitality Scotland, which all have a strong mandate to develop the Borders’ economy and attract investment to the region, had urged councillors to support the planning application.
VisitScotland has separately provided a note of support for the application.
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