Tuesday March 24th 2026
New houses planned for site at Whitehill Road, Rosewell
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A landowner has won his appeal over plans to build six new country homes on land which housed industrial units after councillors ruled it would improve the site.
Archie Hunter applied to build the houses on his land which had been home to cabin craft company Armadilla on Whitehill Road, Rosewell, for a number of years.
However Midlothian Council’s planners refused permission saying it could impact on surrounding woodlands and was a rural location which should be returned to its natural rural state.
A meeting of the local authority’s Local Review Body this week saw elected members overturn the decision and grant permission on appeal after they visited the site in question and said the homes would improve it.
Councillor Colin Cassidy told the meeting he welcomed the plans saying: “It is a very pretty part of the countryside and the only thing that will improve it will be taking those buildings down and putting up some luxury houses, in my view.”
While fellow review body member Councillor Peter Smaill said that while he was disappointed in the ‘suburban’ design of the new housing, he also welcomed the development.
He said: “The fact is the existing buildings are pretty unattractive, being industrial, and the whole site is enclosed by woodland and will not be seen by anyone else so on that basis I think the landowner should be allowed to do this.”
Appealing against the decision to refuse planning permission representatives for Mr Hunter argued the land was not fit to return to its natural state after years of use.
They said the site, which is within a walled garden had been home to a giant glasshouse which collapsed in the early 1900s leaving part of it heavily contaminated with broken glass, foundations and pipelines.
And they said: “Prior to the applicant’s ownership, parts of the site were used as a scrap yard with numerous abandoned vehicles.
Armadilla, which created luxury pods and holiday units, has moved to new premises in Newtongrange as the business has expanded and grown.
During the appeal hearing Councillor Dianne Alexander raised some concerns about the impact of the new homes on traffic on the road which she said was used by pedestrians and children going to school.
However Councillor Russell Imrie, convenor of the review body said: “Our roads department has cleared this so it gave me a sense that they have actually looked at it and checked it all through so I was reasonably happy although it is a good point.”
The review body unanimously granted the appeal overturning their officers’ decision.
You can read the paper presented to the meeting HERE. and you can wtach the LRB discussion below.
