FLOODING fears have failed to sink plans for 26 new homes in a Borders village as a ‘buyer beware’ warning was issued.

A planning application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) by David Harrison Ltd for a greenfield site at Burnside, to the south-east of the mothballed Eddleston Primary School.

The bid was for a residential development made up of seven affordable housing units and 19 open market homes.

The land is allocated for housing in the local authority’s local development plan (LDP).

Potential for flooding was the principal concern raised in representations locally, with the land ‘prone’ to flooding.

SEPA initially issued a holding objection to the plans but that was subsequently withdrawn.

The environment protection agency stated that the risk of flooding was directly linked to channel erosion and that management of the site would reduce potential residual impacts.

When members of SBC’s Planning & Building Standards Committee met on Monday (September 9) they were informed that the development could also support the reopening of the currently mothballed primary school.

The committee voted five to three in favour of the development.

Jedburgh councillor Sandy Scott said: “I have no objection to this, I think SEPA and our flood officer have given it the okay, but would I buy a house on a flood plain? No, so I think we have to have a wee bit of buyer beware. If you think it’s going to flood then don’t buy the house.”

Jane Cox, a councillor for Hawick and Hermitage, added: “I’ll be glad to see the school back in use, which I think it might with the number of houses.”

Tweeddale East councillor Marshall Douglas “reluctantly” supported the application, saying: “I do have grave concerns over the flooding element. I think it is a very serious issue in that area. This is an area very prone to flooding.

“That having been said, SEPA appear to be happy with the suggested conditions and as long as those conditions are in place I think that from a planning point of view, and it is part of the LDP,  then yes I would probably reluctantly go along with this, but it is a case of ‘buyer beware’.”

Tweeddale West councillor Viv Thomson said: “I am surprised with SEPA, to be very honest, that they have removed their concern. I don’t support the application because I think it’s not just those houses, it is impacting other houses in the village with the flooding risk.”