A DUMFRIES man is appealing a decision to block him from building a house and garage on land he owns in the town.
In February this year, Mr A Howieson submitted a planning application to Dumfries and Galloway Council for permission in principle to construct a new house and garage on land in Gribton.
The proposals also included the installation of septic tank and soakaway on the 947 sqm piece of grassland, writes Marc McLean.
While there were no objections from three nearby neighbours, the council rejected the plans in July.
Officials refused the application on the grounds that it would contravene council rules around housing in the countryside and that it “would not accord with or enhance the character of the small building group” at this location.
They felt it would constitute backland development and pointed out the site is accessed via a shared track taken from the C111n public road, and that it forms part of the garden ground of a newly-built house.
An appeal has since been lodged with the council’s local review body which considers arguments from applicants.
The appeal submission states that “it is unreasonable” to consider the location of the proposed house as backland development and that building a new property on this plot of land would “round off” this section of the area’s small building group, which consists of one existing house and an existing general purpose building.
It will be heard at the local review body meeting on Tuesday.
