Thursday August 13th 2026
Liberty Hall land, in East Lothian, is being proposed for holiday let homes
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A fresh bid to build holiday let homes next to a tiny rural community in East Lothian is to be decided by councillors after it was called in.
The application to create two new three bedroom houses at Liberty Hall, outside Haddington, was thrown out earlier this year after planners ruled it was against council policy which restricts new builds in the countryside.
Residents living at Liberty Hall objected saying when occupied the new homes would more than double the community’s population.
However applicant M&C Fielding Developments Ltd argued the new properties should be considered as short term holiday lets rather than residential housing.
Attempts to build on land at the edge of Liberty Hall have seen applications rejected for more than 30 years by local planners and officers are recommending the latest one is also thrown out.
However Councillor Liz Allan, who is ward member for North Berwick coastal and sits on the planning committee has called the application before next week’s planning committee.
She says it should be considered by elected members because “the new changes may be of interest”.
However an officers report to the committee insists the application does not have any changes although an additional supporting statement setting out the reasoning behind the holiday let use has been submitted.
In their report to councillors, officers say: “For avoidance of doubt the proposal is the same as was refused planning permission in April by the planning committee”.
In the new supporting statement the applicants argue there is a need for short term accommodation in East Lothian and their plans should not be judged in the same way as residential housing.
They state: “We believe that the earlier refusal of a near identical application came down chiefly to the conclusion that this was a new home in the countryside…it is not. The description of development is clear that this this is a development to provide holiday accommodation and not a permanent home. ”
They point out the site was historically home to a farm workers cottage and the new development will fit in with the surrounding existing homes.
The planning committee will decide the application at a meeting on Tuesday.
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