Refusal recommended for £5m luxury holiday park plan

A council is being recommended to refuse plans for a £5m luxury holiday park in the Scottish Borders.

CampbellMac Developments said its 40-lodge plan at Earlshaugh Farm in Jedburgh would create 18 jobs and include an office, reception and manager's accommodation lodge.

Its application for a change of use from agricultural grazing will go before Scottish Borders Council's planning committee next week.

A report to councillors said the proposals would be "out of character" with the area and has recommended they turn them down.

The plans generated 15 representation from the public with the majority against the development.

They raised concerns over the scheme's ecological impact, increase in car journeys and effect on the landscape.

A planning statement for the developers said the lodges proposed would be at the "top end" in terms of design and specification.

It argued the plans would sit well with the "clear ambition to grow the visitor economy in the Scottish Borders".

However, a planning officer concluded that the development would increase carbon emissions and was not in keeping with the area.

He recommended refusal as it had not been shown any benefits would outweigh the project's adverse impact.