Steading owner told to find 'alternative route' as French door application for wheelchair access rejected

A rural steading owner who wanted to replace a narrow doorway with French doors to allow ‘wheelchair access’ has been told to find an ‘alternative route’.

Sandesh Pal appealed to Scottish ministers after East Lothian planners refused to give the go ahead for the door, which led from the home into the rear garden, to be widened in the Category A-listed steading building conversion.

Mr Pal argued the proposed change mirrored the design on neigbours’ doors and that the current narrow door “hinders wheelchair access for family members and visitors with disabilities, making these alterations necessary”.

However the Scottish Government reporter rejected his claims, saying suggestions other residents had enlarged openings on their properties were not correct and the conversion of the building, on the outskirts of Innerwick, had been designed to retain key architectural features of it.

Rejecting the appeal, the reporter said: “I consider that the proposed alteration to form double doors at the location proposed would cause this arrangement to be unbalanced, would confuse its purpose and would result in the loss of historic fabric.

“I find these impacts would harm the special interest of the listed building. The desire for improved accessibility does not outweigh the significant adverse impact of the proposed works, when there may be alternative accessible routes that could be explored for adaptation.”

In their appeal they point to planning permissions which have been granted to neighbours in recent years for similar changes to their homes in the steading, including double doors and windows.

East Lothian Council had refused Listed Building Consent for the alternations to the property, saying the changes proposed would “harmfully disrupt and unbalance” the look of the building, adding that the ‘modern’ double doors would be ‘alien’ to the character of the listed building.

The reporter concluded: “I find that most of the proposed works, especially those relating to the enlargement of an original door opening and opening within interior wall, would have an adverse impact on the special architectural or historic interest features of the Category A listed Hunter Steading.

“The listed building or its setting, and the special features of architectural or historic interest which it possesses, would not be preserved by the appeal proposals.”