Arniston Rangers car park housing plan axed as schools are full

The plans for the car park and adjoining land at Arniston Rangers Football Club included a mix of semi-detached and terraced housing.

However, they have been withdrawn after education officials at Midlothian Council objected and warned any housing development allowed to go ahead would be expected to contribute funds to St David’s High.

Education officers told the planning department they estimated the new housing, which would be built adjacent to Newbyres Park football pitch, would require four primary school spaces and three secondary school spaces.

They said it was unclear if there was room to create additional capacity within the primary schools with funding, but it was clear a new secondary school would need to be built before any further housing could be approved.

They said: “A significant amount of housing has already been allocated to Gorebridge and therefore additional secondary school capacity will be required.

“We are considering a site for a new secondary school for Gorebridge. Until we have agreement on how we are going to provide further secondary school provision, education does not support granting approval for this planning application.”

They added: “Currently, for all housing developments in Midlothian, a developer contribution will be required for St David’s High School.”

Following the decision planning officers informed the agent for the applicants Glasgow real estate firm Sennac Ltd they were not ‘minded’ to approve the plans.

The agent said his clients had now agreed to withdraw the planning application.