Scottish Borders Council received a planning application to convert the use of a single storey disused workshop building to form a dwelling house within the residential Burnfoot area.

The building is located within a cluster of single-story buildings originally used as an annex to Burnfoot Primary School, changing to workshop/storage space at a later date.

However, the application has been refused for being out of character with its setting, the Border Telegraph reports. 

A report rejecting planning approval, from council planning officer Stuart Small, reads: “Whilst I have no doubt about the proposed building’s capability of being suitably converted to a residential property, it has not been adequately demonstrated that the proposed change of use to a dwelling would not conflict with established land use of the immediately surrounding area, particularly the neighbouring industrial units.”

Scottish Borders Council’s environmental health officer also raised an objection over its location within an enclosed area which is in commercial use.

He said: “These potentially conflicting uses in such close proximity may result in unacceptable adverse impacts on the future occupiers of the proposed dwelling house by virtue of noise, odour, dust, smoke and fumes.”