Monday November 9th 2026
Bag End, Leadburn, has been home to businesses for over two decades
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A bid to build business units on land formerly used as a timber yard has been given the go ahead after councillors expressed surprise the site was considered countryside.
Midlothian planners had refused to give permission for the demolition of buildings on the site at Bag End, Leadburn, saying it was against policy to protect rural land.
However a meeting of the council’s Local Review Body today overturned the decision after local members said they had believed it had been an industrial site for years.
The plans by Dalgetty Services would see four new business units built on the site, which lies behind holiday accommodation off Peebles Road, at Leadburn Garage.
They argued that the land had been home to a timber company for 20 years in the past and was industrial.
Planners had rejected the proposals saying that it was not a suitable location for the industrial units adding: “The application site is within the countryside. The proposal is not for the furtherance of an identified acceptable countryside activity and does not comply with other relevant Midlothian Local Development Plan policies.
“This does not meet any of the criteria for acceptable uses in the countryside.”
The applicant appealed to the review body who overturned the decision after councillors questioned why it was not seen as an industrial site.
Councillor Colin Cassidy said: “I don’t see a problem at all with this application. It will be an improvement bringing more structure and order to what has been an otherwise neglected ground which is just a mish mash of historic buildings.”
He was backed by review body chair Councillor Russell Imrie who said: “It has been used as an industrial site for many, many years.”
Councillor Imrie said that because the site was technically in the countryside it had to go through the planning process but said it raised an issue which could be considered in the next development plan for the council.
And Councillor Willie McEwan, local ward member, said: “There is a lesson to be learned here,, We live in the county of Midlothian, not the city of Midlothian.
“Inevitably we are going to have more countryside sites, as classified by our planners, with this very scenario. Perhaps a review of classification may be in order because I was surprised to read it was classed as countryside.
“I know the area very well and could not get my heard around the fact it was not a commercial site when it has been for some time.”
The review body unanimously overturned the decision of officers and granted planning permission for the units.
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