‘Homes plan will destroy our village’

Dozens of families have condemned plans to increase the size of a Midlothian village by more than a third.

PLans for the village of Rosewell. Picture: comp

Developers have submitted a proposal that would “transform” the village of Rosewell by adding almost 300 properties to a community that has just 800.

The 42-acre Gorton Loan site would be constructed in several stages and include road and infrastructure works.

But local residents have said they are “disgusted” by the plans, which they claim will drastically alter the make-up of the village.

More than 30 families from Cochrina Place and Gorton Road, which directly border the new development, have submitted a joint letter of objection to Midlothian Council arguing that Rosewell lacks the capacity to support 300 new homes.

Juliette Newton, the resident who organised the letter, said the project would turn the predominately Victorian-era village into a “commuter town”.

“You don’t buy an old farmer’s cottage outside of Rosewell because you want to be part of some large, new-build development,” she said.

“We have a real village feel that you don’t get anywhere else, and we’re very close.

“Rosewell is not a commuter town, and we don’t have the resources to accommodate this many homes.

“There are too many issues about this development that haven’t been addressed, and the people of Rosewell are going to be the ones feeling the consequences. We love our 
village just the way it is, and we don’t want it to change.”

Scott Kearsley, of Cochrina Place, said major changes would be required in Rosewell to accommodate hundreds of new residents.

“If this development goes ahead it will be a disaster for Rosewell and its inhabitants,” he said. “We will become a town missing all the usual facilities associated with such a population.

“We have no medical provision, no banks or free ATMs, no family eateries and a 
simply appalling bus service. If this building work goes ahead, the relaxed atmosphere of Rosewell will be lost forever.”

Laura Mackay, the secretary of Rosewell Community Council, said the group had submitted a detailed objection, asking developer Bett Homes to consider reducing the number of homes.

A spokesman for the builder said it recognised the concerns and added financial contributions would be made to Midlothian Council to help build up the village’s missing infrastructure. He said: “We have discussed our proposals with residents and listened to any concerns they may have, many of which have been addressed in both our application and in our re-submission.

“We have undertaken full public consultation at each stage of the planning process.

“We are confident all improvements will be to the benefit of the community.”

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