Neighbours in new fight over fields

Published on Friday 10 July 2009 09:43

RESIDENTS are preparing for a new battle to prevent houses being built on a local beauty spot.

Previous applications to build homes on the former Army polo fields in Colinton have been scrapped after more than 2,500 people objected.

Now a public inquiry has challenged Edinburgh City Council's decision to allocate it as a green field site in their local plan.

Developers Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes objected to Dreghorn Polo Fields being classified as an "area of great landscape value" which was unsuitable for building on.

The reporters' decision could give the go-ahead to developers to build on the site.

The six-hectare fields link two urban wildlife sites, and are popular with local people, who use them for jogging, walking and horse-riding.

David Bewsey, planning convener of Colinton Amenity Association, said: "There are a lot of people who feel very strongly that it should not be built on. Once lost, it is lost forever."

Councillor Jason Rust, who represents Colinton and Fairmilehead, said: "There is real community concern regarding the reporters' recommendations. If this goes ahead, then the situation would become a lot more favourable to developers.

"The local community have successfully fought off developers in the past and will vigorously challenge any attempt at housing allocation for this greenfield site.

"The community case was not permitted to be fully deployed at the inquiry and it is vital that local residents are able to put their strong case and that the council takes cognisance of the objections."

More than 2,500 people objected to the scheme by Taylor Woodrow and Miller Homes to build upmarket houses and flats on the site in 2005. This led to Edinburgh City Council rejecting the plans. A previous application had been turned down in 2000.

But in their report, published this week, Scottish Government reporters said that the site would be suitable for up to 75 houses.

They wrote: "We conclude that the strategic need for housing land in the Edinburgh Urban Fringe outweighs the informal recreational use of the Dreghorn Polo Fields objection site and that the other environmental impacts can be mitigated or otherwise addressed."

A council spokesman said: "We will put forward our proposals based on these recommendations to the council's planning committee later in the year."

A spokeswoman for Taylor Wimpey said: "Taylor Wimpey has not yet seen the report of the public inquiry into the proposed development of the Dreghorn Polo Fields in Colinton, and therefore cannot fully comment on its contents. However, the company would welcome any favourable findings towards the proposed development."