Dunbar man who replaced door in government's Warmer Home Scotland project 'needs planning permission'

A homeowner who installed a new door in his home to cut energy costs has been told he needs planning permission five years after work was carried out.

Robert Whitecross told East Lothian Council planners he believed a new uPVC door installed as part of the work on his East Links Road house in Dunbar was acceptable because it was a government programme.

In a retrospective planning application lodged with the local authority for the front door, Mr Whitecross said he “didn’t know planning consent was needed”, adding that he “assumed as work carried out by Scottish Government, body would have sought all planning permissions required.”

The door was replaced as part of the Warmer Home Scotland initiative five years ago. LDRS

The Warmer Home Scotland programme was designed to help people make their homes warmer and more comfortable by installing a range of energy saving improvements.

The Scottish Government offers assistance to homeowners and private sector tenants struggling to heat their home who have lived in their property for at least twelve months and who meet the eligibility criteria.

Earlier this month, the Scottish Government made changes to eligibility for the programme to open it up to around 110,000 more households across Scotland.

The changes, which came into effect last Monday, allow people aged 16 and over to access support for energy-saving home improvements like insulation and draughtproofing to help make their home easier to keep warm as well as increasing the number of elderly households who could qualify.

The planning application is available to view on the council planning portal.