Friday April 17th 2026
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A bid to site a 37-feet long static caravan beside stables in Hawick has been rejected amid concerns from neighbours.
An application for the use of the caravan as an office with toilet and food making facilities on land north of Crumelknowes was submitted to Scottish Borders Council.
The site is currently used by the applicant for their horses and chickens and is located within the open countryside on greenfield land.
Three neighbours submitted objections to the plan due to its size, the potential for noise and air pollution, deterioration of a private road and the potential for the caravan being used for residential use.
One objector stated: “We are objecting to this application on the basis that the size of the proposed caravan is excessive for its intended use and our concern is that it will become a permanent residence
“Our property overlooks the site of the stables. This has always been a stable but since the present tenants have occupied the site its use has changed from a stables to a business premises.
“The tenant uses this site for firewood production in the winter which includes the felling of the surrounding trees. The noise of the chainsaws, which can last for hours and can occur seven days a week, has a detrimental effect on us.”
SBC planning officer Stuart Small, in his report refusing the application, states: “The siting of a residential caravan for office and welfare use would not amount to sustainable development on greenfield land and it would have an adverse impact on the intrinsic rural value of the open countryside, being neither demonstrably suitable for the proposed use, or appropriate to the character of the rural setting.”
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