Councillors have rejected plans to build homes on a former gas works over concern the land could be contaminated and put the health of future residents at risk.

A meeting of Midlothian planning committee was told the plans for 14 new houses at Arniston Gas Works, near Gorebridge, were the fifth attempt in 17 years by developers to create homes on the land.

However concerns that previous uses of the site could have left the land unfit for residential use saw the council’s environmental health bosses call for it to be rejected and local ward councillor Ellen Scott agreed.

She told fellow elected members she was concerned that potential contamination would be a “very high risk to future residents”.

Officers said: “The previous site uses are the former gas works,
shallow mine workings, coal bing and flytipping.

“On the basis of these comments, it is likely that contamination is present on site at such levels that it would pose a very high risk to the health of any future residents they recommend the proposal be refused.”

The application was recommended for refusal by planning officers and called in by Councillor Scott so elected members could take a decision.

Councillor Scott moved a motion to reject the plans and pointed out it was next to Gorebridge Glen which was a popular walking area for locals.

She said: “This (site) is an integral part of the glen and this is an unjustifiable development.”

She was supported by Councillor Kelly Drummond who also raised concerns about the impact of allow housing on land which could be contaminated.

The committee unanimously agreed to refuse permission for the housing.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

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