Thursday February 19th 2026
Park Hotel, Peebles
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Expansion is on the horizon at a Peebles hotel – despite privacy concerns raised by elderly neighbours.
A planning bid submitted to Scottish Borders Council to build three holiday lodges on land east of the Park Hotel in Innerleithen Road has been approved
The pods are earmarked for an an area of unused garden ground.
The application was opposed by a couple living at Walkershaugh, to the southern boundary of the application site.
Their concerns centred on a loss of privacy, noise disturbance and light pollution.
The objector’s submission stated: “The proposed plan would give rise to the potential of being overlooked with a direct line of site into a bedroom, living areas and garden space. We anticipate this would apply to our direct neighbours to our west boundary also.
“Given the proximity to our boundary, the elevated relationship, and the orientation of external sitting areas, we consider it likely that noise from guest use (voices, gatherings, and potentially music) could materially affect our residential amenity, especially during evenings and at night.
“As an elderly couple, we place significant reliance on reasonable peace and quiet within our home and garden.”
In his report approving the application, Ranald Dods, SBC planning officer, deemed that the development was in a “relatively discreet location”.
He states: “Located between existing hedges to the north and south, the lodges have been designed to have the appearance of garden buildings.
“They would be finished externally with dark stained vertical timber cladding and the slate roofs would be clad with slate. At the southern end of each unit would be a small area of decking and a glazed section.
“The units would be separated from each other by privet hedging. The design, relatively discrete location and proposed planting all combine to minimise the visual impact of the proposal.
“The essential qualities that contribute to the hotel building’s special architectural interest — its massing, baronial expression and landmark presence — would remain unaffected.
“The impact on setting was therefore assessed as low and neutral.”
A report in support of the application stated: “The existing successful hotel business identified the need to broaden their market appeal and offer a wide variety of accommodation options for their guests coming to the area and the proposals are to be considered in the context of being an extension of the existing business at the Park Hotel.
“Separate self-catering ‘pod’ type accommodation was seen as being the perfect match for the current offerings.”
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