Monday February 2nd 2026
Annabel Hamilton speaking at today's meeting
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A young Borders farmer today addressed the financial pressures facing UK agricultural as she successfully spoke in support of a bid for a free range egg laying unit housing 32,000 hens.
An application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council by WB Hamilton & Sons for construction of a unit at Bee Edge Farm on arable farmland between Coldingham and the A1.
At a meeting of SBC’s Planning and Building Standards Committee on Monday, February 2, the bid was unanimously approved.
Applicant Annabel Hamilton spoke in support of the application, stressing the need for the family farm to diversify.
She said: “Over the past two years our business has increasingly felt the financial pressures that now define UK agriculture.
“For Bee Edge to be genuinely sustainable we require persistent, profitable returns.
“Free range egg production is in demand and brings in these consistent financial returns.
“Now is the time for the next generation to step forward and help guide the farm into the new era of UK agriculture.
“For me this means introducing a new forward thinking strategy to Bee Edge, one that delivers clear economic benefit, creates two full time employment positions, produces a sustainable end product and provides great financial security for the next generation in increasingly uncertain times.”
Members heard from an objector to the plans, Ciaran Hatsell, a ranger for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), who raised concerns over monitoring and managing the impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Mr Hatsell said he wanted to see stricter controls but said that if the application was approved he would work with the farm owners on the development.
East Berwickshire Independent councillor Aileen Orr said: “This is great for the Borders in that many of these eggs are advertised as coming from the Scottish Borders, so we have that economic part of it, but also it is good to have 22 households within the local village being supportive, which is pretty incredible.
“On the issue of the Avian Flu, the Hamilton’s will be more than aware of the migratory birds on their land, so it would be crazy if they didn’t go to the highest standards.”
The applicant operates an existing agricultural business which extends to approximately 2,400 acres of which 400 acres are owner-occupied land and 2,000 acres are rented, with a mixture of crops and livestock.
Tweet Share on Facebook
