Retired East Lothian couple battle planners over order to move summer house two metres

A retired couple have launched an appeal after they were ordered to move their summer house two metres from its current position.

East Lothian planners granted a retrospective application for permission to change the garden of a rural cottage at Yester, near Gifford, including the addition of a sauna, shed, patio, fence, and summer house.

However, they included a condition demanding the summer house be moved from its current position, saying it protruded from the building line and impacted the “character and appearance” of the surrounding area.

Applicants, the Ledinghams, lodged an appeal with the council’s Local Review Body, arguing the summer house protects their home by providing a windbreak and adds to their garden, being a “haven” for them.

Planning officers said they received 15 objections to the application from nine objectors, raising concerns including the height of the fence obstructing traffic views, and loss of parking space to the summer house.

However, the Ledinghams’ appeal argues that planners made a mistake by claiming the summer house protrudes from their home when, in fact, it is a neighbour’s house line that extends past.

They say: “The garden has been significantly improved in the last two years as it was sloping unevenly and basically a rockery. It is now a lovely small cottage garden in which to sit. This is a haven for us when our health is poor.

“The garden is very windy and the siting of the summerhouse gives us some protection and respite. The garden is wider at the entrance and narrows considerably and so moving the summerhouse is not appropriate. The summerhouse is on our land and hasn’t affected parking.”

The appeal will go before the Local Review Body next month.