EIGHT holiday lodges are set to be built on an historic Borders estate following approval by Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) planning committee.

During a meeting on Monday (June 28), members of the planning and building standards committee heard that the development to the north east of Thirlestane Castle “will help the Borders become a first-class holiday destination”.

Speaking on behalf of the development, Edward Maitland-Carew, of Lauderdale Estates, told elected officials at the meeting that the “small development of high quality lodges” will be sympathetic to the environment.

He added that there is currently a “clear demand for affordable yet high quality accommodation”.

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According to SBC papers, the site is located to the east of Lauder and is within an area of woodland called Broomy Braes.

The papers add: “Thirlestane Castle, a category A listed building, is to the north west of the site, which is within Thirlestane Castle Garden and Designed Landscape.”

The proposal outlines plans for six two-bedroom lodges (42 by 20ft) and two three-bedroom lodges (45 by 20ft), each with “decking, hot tub, bike shelter and a ground source heat pump”.

The lodges would be clad in timber, according to the papers, with tree and shrub planting proposed between each unit.

Kelso councillor Simon Mountford, of the Conservatives, said the approval of the development – which he described as “interesting and attractive” – was “very good news”.

“This is a high quality sustainable development which is going to make a contribution to the quality of the tourism offering in the Scottish Borders,” said Mr Mountford, chairman of the committee.

Despite the development being unanimously approved by councillors, East Berwickshire representative Helen Laing, of the SNP, raised concerns about the felling of trees.

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On the issue of trees, the council papers state: “Tree felling would be required at the individual sites of the eight lodges (Sitka spruce), the passing places (2 oak), the septic tank, soakaways and trench for services (14 Norway spruce) and the site of the walkers’ car park (10 trees: oak, willow, ash and birch).”

SBC principal planning officer Barry Fotheringham gave assurances at the meeting that a legal agreement would ensure that the site could not be “clear felled”.

The council papers state that the legal agreement will cover “the extent of proposed tree felling” and “secure additional and compensatory planting out with the site boundary”.

Meanwhile, the development also includes “an array of four rows of solar panels” proposed for the field to the north of the lodges beyond the Southern Upland Way.

Access to the holiday lodges will be from the B6362, with the existing access getting upgraded.

Derek Inglis, SBC principal roads planning officer, said the upgrade will have a “huge benefit to road safety”.

“There was a bit of a road safety concern with this junction so we’ve seen the opportunity to get rid of that.”