Thursday April 23rd 2026
Scottish Borders Council
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A bid to locate six new homes in a Berwickshire field has bitten the dust amid concerns over the loss of prime agricultural land.
An application for planning approval in principle was submitted to Scottish Borders Council for the proposed dwelling houses on land east of Park Neuk at Greenriggs in Greenlaw.
The applicant was David R Fleming, of Duns-based Hume Holdings.
The bid was opposed by Greenlaw and Hume Community Council, a spokesperson for which said: “The community council welcomes new housing applications which benefit the local community, however there are concerns regarding this planning application.
“This application is for six houses which is more than the current Local Development Plan allows.
“There is nothing to suggest the houses are attached to agricultural, forestry or any other local employment.
“There will be a loss of prime agricultural land, and a concern that should this proposal be approved this may lead to further development within the field that the site is located.”
Neighbours also submitted objections to the proposal, one stating: “The location of the proposal is close to the junction of Old Greenlaw/Hassington Road.
“The junction already has poor visibility issues on entry and exit to Hume Hall Holdings. Having an additional three entry/exit points directly onto Hume Hall Holdings road, near to the junction, is of great concern.
“The road along Hume Hall Holdings is in a state of disrepair and it is unfit for any associated increase in traffic.
“The road already accommodates a large number of vehicles, including agricultural vehicles from neighbouring farms.”
SBC planning officer Cameron Kirk, in his report refusing the application, says: “The proposed development would break into an undeveloped field, and it would result in ribbon development along the public road which would adversely impact upon the composition and quality of the landscape
character.
“The principle of the development is therefore unacceptable.”
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