Developers Rapleys have recently posted a glossy leaflet to all Balerno households, continuing with previous proposals for 350 houses on Green Belt land. The developers are proposing public online consultations by Zoom on Friday 12th of June, 10 – 12 pm and 6 – 8 pm. Please do add your voice by attending one of these meetings. (If you are digitally connected…)
Glenbrook – glamping pods refused by Reporter
The DPEA Reporter has now rejected the developers appeal to build 6 glamping pods near to the steadings on Glenbrook Road. The proposal had already been rejected by CEC Planning Committee, and therefore the developer had gone to appeal. This means that the proposals can go no further – for the time being at least.
In his comments, the Reporter quite rightly referred to many of the points made by local residents. Local people have again proved that engaging with Reporters both in written form and personally ( – during his site visit) can be effective in restraining inappropriate, Green Belt, development.
Reporter refuses Glenbrook 53 house application
In a late Christmas present for local people, the Reporter has refused the application by Clarendon to build 53 houses on Green Belt land on the Glenbrook Road just outside of Balerno. His refusal seems to be based mainly on Green Belt and landscape considerations. Click here for full details: Glenbrook refusal 2018.12 . So far at least, the western (Glenbrook), southern (Cockburn Crescent) and eastern (Harlaw Gait) boundaries are proving to be defensible. Residents will be aware that the planning system is heavily weighted in favour of developers however. Community Right of Appeal (CRA) for applications that fall outside of the LDP would forestall this.
Glenbrook 5 house review / appeal – REFUSED
Residents may recall that this application was refused by CEC Planning in January of this year. Since then, the developer appealed the decision to CEC Planning Dept. This appeal has once again been refused by the CEC Planning Local Review Body (LRB). The refusal letter from LRB is attached here.
Many residents responded to the review notice with detailed and well argued letters of objection, and these seem to have been duly noted by CEC Planning.
Glenbrook – the Thin End of the Wedge for Balernos Green Belt
Developers Clarendon have recently submitted a minor proposal to build a preliminary 5 houses, on land adjacent to the proposed 60 house development that is already earmarked for Glenbrook Road (see previous post). It is not hard to see that this small scale proposal could pave the way for the main Glenbrook development to go ahead more smoothly. Add this to the fact that the local landowner owns the Goodtrees land to the west of Cockburn Crescent, and that Clarendon were the agents behind the twice refused Cockburn Cres proposal for 150 houses to the south of Cockburn Crescent.
In the light of this, it may be wise for residents to comment on this seemingly minor proposal.
Download our Window Poster
Balerno Green Belt group has produced a poster which you can display in your window to show your support.
Please download and print it out if you support the Green Belt around Balerno.
Window poster 2015.07(PDF, 630 KB)
New Ravelrig proposals
Developers Rapleys have recently (29.10.19) submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to build a swathe of new houses downhill from the newly built Ravelrig estate. This looks likely to dwarf the new estate and points to as many as 600-700 houses.
Glenbrook – application submitted for 53 houses
Developers Clarendon, with local landowner Simon Thomson, have recently submitted a new application to build up to 53 houses by the junction of the Johnsburn / Glenbrook road – see previous posts for map. This application is for development on Green Belt land, and is not part of the recently published Local Development Plan.
The new deadline for comments is Friday 27th October – to submit comments, please read on…
Cockburn Cres – saved again!
The Reporters decision on the Appeal by developers Barratt David Wilson to develop the land south of Cockburn Cres has been announced today – and the answer is still a Refusal. This is the second appeal by the developers since the first one was lodged in March 2014. Residents might be wondering why a second appeal was allowed to be submitted so soon after the first had been so comprehensively rejected by the Reporter. Download decision here.
Update Dec 2018 + get involved
Glenbrook – Application submitted for 53 houses (Sept 2017) – appeal refused Dec 2018
Ravelrig – this is now being built, as the Reporter upheld the developers appeal.
Newmills – this is now being built, as it is included in the latest LDP
Mansfield – developers appeal was refused for the second time – unlikely to go further
Harlaw Gait – developers appeal was refused – unlikely to go further
What next?
1. Follow us by clicking on the Follow button at the bottom of this page
2. Write to your local representatives – CLICK HERE
3. Demand system change to rebalance the planning system – follow Planning Democracy
