Plans for flat conversions refused amid antisocial behaviour fears in Gorebridge, Midlothian

Plans to convert a house into two flats have been thrown out amid claims they would bring increased antisocial behaviour to the area.

The proposals for the house on Glenview Road, Gorebridge, would have seen the semi-detached house turned into two one-bedroom flats.

However the transformation bid drew six objections from local residents in the modern housing estate.

One argued that there were already 24 one-bedroom flats in the area and no need for more, while another said that flats were more likely to create antisocial behaviour than houses.

One objection lodged with Midlothian council planners said: “My experience of creating flats from houses is that it increases antisocial behaviour in the vicinity of the road which is normally quiet and relaxing.”

Another said: “This will impact my house value and having moved here in the last few years, it will cause me to need to sell up and move. This will have a massive impact on the lives of my family.”

Concerns were also raised about the impact on parking in the street.

Applicant Andrew Wesley said the house was currently occupied by a family of five with three and potentially four cars, meaning the two flats would result in less parking demand.

And he said: “Less people means less noise and the proposed occupants are more likely to be older people who may no longer drive due to the proximity of local bus stops and free bus passes.”

However planners ruled that the decision to make the garden of the house a shared space for two flats meant there would not be enough amenity for the new residents.

And they said that while the application was for two one-bedroom flats the upstairs flat had the potential to be up to a four-bedroom property, which would increase the parking spaces required.

Rejecting the application planning officers said: “The proposed subdivision of the property would result in significantly low levels of amenity for the dwellings, with below standard garden ground provided for the
proposed flatted dwellings.

“The proposed subdivision of the property would result in overlooking to the gardens of neighbouring houses and detrimentally affect the amenity and privacy of these existing properties.”