A COUPLE’S long-running battle to build a new house in Dalbeattie is finally over.
Castle Douglas man Billy Gibson and his wife had waited more than two years for a decision on whether or not they could build a new property on a plot they own in Port Road.
After their initial house building application to Dumfries and Galloway Council was rejected by a planning case officer in March this year, the couple lodged an appeal via the authority’s local review body.
The case was heard last week and councillors listened to arguments from a planning agent fighting their case who tried to counter claims that the house would be “unduly large” and the designs would be “obtrusive, overbearing and out of keeping” with the area in Dalbeattie.
David Kerr, of agents HK Thorburn & Son, submitted a statement to the committee, which read: “Similar designs have been approved around Dumfries and Galloway, including in Kirkcudbright.
“The access to the main accommodation from the main road with garages below takes into account any flood risk issues.”
The Gibsons first submitted their plans to build the house on land in Port Road in February 2022, and there had been numerous back and forths between the couple and planning department.
However, a flood risk assessment for the site never materialised after all the communication, which concerned some councillors.
Castle Douglas Councillor Iain Howie said: “I think we’re really going to struggle without a flood risk assessment in place.
“I don’t think we can make a sound judgement without that being before us. I don’t think we have sufficient information in front of us today.”
However, Lochar Councillor Ivor Hyslop said: “When you look at the reasons for refusal, one is that the actual design of the house does not fit with our policies.
“When you look at the drawings, I must admit that it’s not one that I would pick if I had a plot.
“Is it right for us to go back and ask an applicant to do a flood risk assessment at his expense? He could do that, come back, and then we turn it down because we don’t like the look of the house.
“It’s my understanding that the applicant was made aware in January 2023 that we required a flood risk assessment – and has done nothing about it to this day.”
Councillor Hyslop then put forward a motion for the officer’s decision on refusing planning permission to be upheld.
This was agreed by the committee.
