A Microcosm of Local Planning

I posted this today on the Homebuilding and Renovating magazine. I know - I am back on planning matters. But once you have been in the system, believe me it becomes addictive.

http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/community/blog-post/microcosm-local-planning#comment-10852

How web sites work these days. I am in the running for a home building award for the Goldwyre House which caused me to look further onto your web site. Planning indeed! Let me tell you my story. We took 10 years to get permission for our house build. It is a sensitive site and the planners wanted to make sure the design was not too ostentatious. Our first design was refused being too "exotic". The senior planning officer though had his own opinion "I will never allow you to build on this site" rings in our ears. However, it’s not the prerogative of one person and the appeals reporter stated that the principle of a house build could not be refused. We went to work on the design and what you see on the competition page is what we built. That process wasn't straightforward but it was reasonable and we built a working relationship with the planning officer. A new broom was at the top of the planning team as well and things seemed to be much better all round in Midlothian, not just for us. However what happened next is the reason we called our house RP9 which stands for Rural Policy No 9 which defines the specific locational need and protection of river valleys in Midlothian. A local group campaigned hard to say that RP9 was being overlooked and our house, despite now having permission, should be restricted in size and any non-material variations be brought to the fore and raised to a level of National importance. I kid you not about the National importance. The Esk Valley Trust wrote to the planning department to say that our project made depressing reading and that the whole issue should be raised at a National level. They contacted the Green party. They mounted an un neighbourly campaign and an Amenity Society went to town on complaints running into 10's of pages per letter. When they had no joy with our house and a non-material variation they picked up on unauthorised items - a fence (replacement), a sitting out area (replacement), path widening! And steps into the steep bank of the woodland for access! The latter items should probably never have been submitted into a planning application but we went ahead with the advice of the planning officer to capture these minor items into one overall application and to put a stop to all the local complaints. The planners recommended approval. The pressure group mounted its attack via the local councillors and at a committee meeting (not a delegated matter) the meeting refused permission by 8 to 6. We weren't surprised and went to appeal. The appeal over ruled the council and the report was a joy. the campaign to make RP9 work against was over turned by the appeal in a few short sentences stating "how could these items be any more locationally specific" which contrasted widely with the reams of paper and dedication of a few to put their own slant on the meaning of a planning policy.

I have a blog site that I created at the time of great angst in my life. Our house and woodland feature on it. Take a look. There are more planning stories in there.

http://watertowerwood.blogspot.com/

Homebuilding and Renovating Award

http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/awards/self-builds?dm_i=8R7,KFSM,VIMEE,1NSS2,1

This site takes you to the Homebuilding and Renovating awards page for self build 2011. We are listed and there is a short video showcasing all the entries. Take a look and please vote for us if you think our house worthy. We already won Scottish Designer House of the year back in May but this award is UK wide and it would be nice to see Scotland making a mark.

Here are more photos of the house and the ever changing garden.


Our Chilli Cupboard - named after the Chill Pepper handles on the doors.

The Livingroom looking at its best. Its not so tidy at the moment

Cystic Fibrosis Starlight Wish

Not a lot to do with a woodland but who cares...... Download this track, its just great.

Gail Hall posted in Cheshire East Parents & Carers Voice.

Gail Hall 12:18am Oct 6 Hope you don't mind me gatecrashing your forum with this message for a good cause: I am writing to ask if you will help grant Bianca's Starlight Wish to become a recording artist. Bianca suffers from cystic fibrosis a lifelong and life shortening illness. Despite this she is determined to hold on to her dream and become a pop star. How can you help Starlight grant Bianca's Starlight Wish? Starlight needs approximately 5,000 people to download Bianca's debut single 'Hold On To Your Dreams' for her to get into the charts. If we can get her into the charts, our hope is that a record label will take notice. You can listen to her single and download it here: iTunes - http://tinyurl.com/hotyd1 Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/hotyd2 You can help grant Bianca's Starlight Wish by downloading her début single and asking your friends and colleagues to do the same. To have maximum impact we need everyone to do this now please. Why might you consider helping? Quite simply Bianca is an amazing singer and it is a brilliant song (she performed it this weekend at The Boodles Boxing Ball in front of 900 guests). We are hoping that 'people power' will help this lovely young lady achieve her dream by getting her into the charts. About Bianca and cystic fibrosis Bianca suffers from cystic fibrosis a lifelong and life shortening illness which requires rigorous physiotherapy, about 40 tablets every day as well as nebulisers and inhalers to try and keep her well. Like most CF sufferers during her lifetime she has spent a substantial amount of time in hospital. One of the many affects of cystic fibrosis is that breathing is very difficult because of the effects of sticky mucus in her lungs. Despite this, Bianca is determined to become a pop star and we would like to make her Starlight Wish come true. Sadly there is currently no cure for CF. If you would consider helping to grant Bianca's Starlight Wish that would be much appreciated. Many thanks Neil Neil Swan Chief Executive Officer Starlight Children's Foundation iTunes - Music - Hold On To Your Dreams - Single by Bianca Nicholas itunes.apple.com Preview songs from Hold On To Your Dreams - Single by Bianca Nicholas on the iTunes Store. Preview,

Woodland Management Strategy

https://planning-applications.midlothian.gov.uk/OnlinePlanning/files/915E251D0802C99E58832C994F4EBFFA/pdf/document-62735.pdf

I found this whilst browsing the local council tree permissions on line. It gives a very interesting perspective on the vagaries of managing woodlands. I can understand it - but not being an expert it tells me I still have a lot to learn.

Looking at the water tower woodland today in the drizzling rain the trees planted last year on the top of the bank (6 Gean or native cherry) and the Alder on the steep slope just below the Gean are all doing very well. There's lots of other smaller understorey planting but these trees are looking so good I'm minded to plant more. I think a line of the Alder directly behind the Gean would look good and eventually prove a graded back drop set against the mature trees behind - Beech, Yew, Elm and the wonderful Hornbeam. Oh and the Lime and the Sycamore nearest the corner of the house.
I still have 1 spindly and top growth only Cherry to fell but I'll have to wait until someone can see their foothold. Its too big a tree for me to fell. There's also a fair sized Elm which has died back this year. Dutch Elm disease everyone tells me. Cameron said to lop it because the "thing" that causes Dutch Elm flies at a certain height and if you keep the Elms coppiced then they don't get the disease.
I'll look into that a little more before making any decision. I do like Elm in the Spring and even although the get DED they seem to recover each year? One for some internet research - unless anyone else out there has any advice to offer?

Post to susangoldwyre@yahoo.co.uk

Blog Comment

Today I noted a really lovely comment on the blog site. I tried to respond via the comments link but I just kept getting failure messages. Others have told me they have difficulty registering comments as well.

Here is the comment that was posted by another blogger;

Areas like this must be conserved to protect their beauty for the future. The wealth of links to the past abound and deserve to be treated with respect. And they are, on the whole. But that does not mean standing still, locked in a time capsule that doesn't allow for growth. Nor does it mean any progress should be a pastiche, a vulgar representation of what once was. Worse still, a box like world of quick build, safe suburban blandness (which can be found all around).

Building a future for an area such as Eskbank deserves ingenuity, care and at times, having the courage to do something that pushes the boundary. Blending in while being unique. It's also about managing what you have responsibly.

That's why what you are creating, a small spot in the woods, is special, unique, and is bringing a vibrancy that adds a breath of air. Controversial? It would seem so. But rather controversy, not for controversy sake, than bland complacency. A passion to create opposed to a pattern of recreate.

Keep conserving and creating; building a future for this area that is caring, responsible and unique. It's all our responsibility.

So thank you very much indeed to this person. It is always good to get a response to something you are passionate about and when the subject matter is controversial it makes it all the more appreciated. I do not know who this blogger is but if they would like to come and visit to see more then please e mail
susangoldwyre@yahoo.co.uk


My blog posts though are taking a bit of a back seat since I have taken on a short term contract of work. G and I have been busy though in the garden and more tree poles have been used to create raised beds at the front next to the large sycamore tree. Filled with top spoil something might grow there now and the idea is to enhance the public view of the wall leading from the tennis club entrance down to our gate. I planted some cotoneaster (or cotton Easter as my friend calls it), some berberis to match in with that planted in the Spring on the tennis club strip, and a Cotinus which has a lovely red coloured leaf and will go well with the Acer's especially in the Autumn. Lots of bulbs and some vinca, ajuga and the ever useful pachysandra.

On the planning front yet more communication from Midlothian Council was received that warranted question and debate. I read the detail of the Reporters conditions but I don't think the planners did the same. 

My advice for any conditions documented and given to you for any situation in life;
Read the question - Read the question again - Answer the question - justify your response and keep your justification to hand. Simple.