Tuesday September 15th 2026
May Terrace, North Berwick, will be home to a short term holiday let.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Wealthy property investors were accused of ‘planting money’ in houses in North Berwick making it impossible for local workers to live there at a council meeting last week.
East Lothian Council’s licensing sub committee was asked to approve an application to turn a family home in the seaside town into a short term let by its owner who told the meeting he was in the process of moving his family to the town from South Africa.
However one objector urged councillors to reject the application insisting the use of homes in the town for holiday lets was taking over the town.
His claims came after the same meeting heard concerns over a successful application for another short term let which would make three of eight cottages in a quiet corner of the town holiday accommodation.
The objector, whose home backed on to the garden of the application house on May Street, said the impact of the short term market on the town was unacceptable.
He told the meeting: “People are using North Berwick to plant their money to good advantage, to buy properties. They have no intention of living there. It is just so they can park their money, make a good profit and use the houses in North Berwick. Too bad about the people living there.
“People who have to work in North Berwick cannot find a house because they are all too expensive or they are lying empty. I know a number of people who live in Edinburgh and travel in and out of North Berwick every day just to do their jobs who would like to live here but there is no affordable housing for them.”
The applicant for the May Terrace house told the committee he and his family were in the process of moving from South Africa to Scotland and had bought the home as their eventual permanent residence.
They said they were currently staying in Edinburgh while their daughter finished school but hoped to move to the town next summer and wanted to let it out until they were in a position to move in.
Committee chairperson Colin McGinn acknowledged concern from locals about the impact of short term lets on residents but said he did not find any reason to reject the proposal.
He said: “Ultimately we take each application on its merit and we hear from North Berwick residents in particular. North Berwick is an attractive place to stay and visit that is why it is voted so highly every year, that means holiday provision and short term lets.
“I appreciate the comments on both applications about community but we have to make a decision on this application on this property and have heard nothing which means it should not be approved.”
The application was unanimously approved by members.
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