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Comiston Farmhouse... Securing the Future

Transfer to the developers is complete

Archive - What's On This Page

Since April 2016 (when this website was set up) and November 2017, a planning application was refused, and an appeal against that decision was dismissed. The Farmhouse sale was off, and the Council had to re-think and re-market. So, while they did this, and not wanting to erase all that was published on the site up to that point, most of the "recent history" (text and images) relating to this troubled period was moved here, as an archive... and as a reminder of what we have all been put through. Further history has subsequently been added.

Everything below this line is archive material.

Latest News

On Wednesday 15 March 2023 the Planning Application was GRANTED at a meeting of the Council's Development Management Subcommittee. The webcast of the meeting can be watched by clicking HERE, although as there was no debate about the "recommendation to grant"  the item (4f) is only seconds long. To see what is planned, visit the Council's planning website [HERE], and then view the latest drawings posted on 1 February.

News as at February 2023

On 12 August 2021 the Finance and Resources Committee of CEC approved a recommendation to make Burgh Developments the preferred bidder. It is thought that the developer's planning application will be considered for approval rejection by the Council in March 2023.

News as at January 2022

On 12 August 2021 the Finance and Resources Committee of CEC approved a recommendation to make Burgh Developments the preferred bidder. Legal work and a full planning application will now follow.

News as at July 2021

1. Bids in the current sale process are being assessed.  A preferred bidder should be agreed in mid-August.

2. CHOISS, a co-housing group, have applied to obtain the Farmhouse under Community Asset Transfer (CAT) legislation. This is not part of the standard sale process but could take priority.

Anyone may make representation about the CAT application, in writing, and including name and address of sender, by 30 July to:
The City of Edinburgh Council – Operational Property,
Community Asset Transfer Team,
Waverley Court,
Level 1.5, 
4 East Market Street,
EH8 8BG.

A copy will be given to CHOISS. The Notice on the Farmhouse gate gives more information (or click HERE to see an image of it). The CHOISS website is www.comiston.org.

News as at early 2021

The farmhouse is back on the market. All enquiries can be directed to 
Deborah Bruce (deborah.bruce@edinburgh.gov.uk) at Edinburgh Council who will be able to send details.

News as at 25 October 2020

Buckley Building Ltd has withdrawn entirely from the sale (see Website Archive page).
The Council is to re-market the property soon.

News as at 4 February 2020

Buckley Building Ltd has withdrawn the planning application...
... but will submit a revised proposal. 

Apparently the sale contract is still valid, but with some changes required to the planning application the developer considered it wise to withdraw the current scheme. The revised application should be submitted in March and should address the planning officers' concerns.

News as at 22 June 2019

Having been re-marketed by Morton Fraser on behalf of the Council (click here for sales brochure PDF) , the farmhouse is now "sold subject to planning permission".

The Planning Application is now live. The deadline for Comments is 12 July 2019.

CLICK HERE to go directly to the relevant page on the CEC Planning Portal,
where you can examine the documents and leave Comments
(
or you can Google "Edinburgh Planning Portal" and then search using the reference number 19/02636/FUL,
or the postal address: 84 Pentland View EH10 6PT).

The buyer is Buckley Building UK Ltd, and their website is Here, where they have a page on Comiston Farmhouse (though the plan image is out of date). The proposal is to retain the Farmhouse, dividing it into 4 flats, and build four 4-bedroom houses of modern design with integral garages in the back garden.

News as at 25 April 2018

In the autumn of 2017 Edinburgh Council asked a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) to assess the site for development (with retention of the farmhouse) for social or affordable housing. However, around March 2018, after due consideration, the RSL decided that the site was unsuitable for its purposes.

Residents had a meeting on 18 April with Council members from the Estates Dept and were told that CFH would now be sold as a house on the residential property market via an estate agent. Particulars will be drawn up soon.

(For history of the farmhouse see "Farmhouse History". 
For history of the planning and appeals process see "Website Archive".)

Planning Permission was REFUSED (19 April 2017)
If you would like to see the webcast of the meeting click HERE, then on the r.h.s. find Item 6.2(a) and click "Watch" 
(or drag the webcast progress slider to 2h55m00s and watch from there).
The appeal was DISMISSED on 6 October 2017
(You can view the APPEAL DECISION NOTICE by clicking HERE [PDF], or visit the DPEA website).

NEW PLANS WERE SUBMITTED...

Planning Permission was REFUSED on Wednesday 19 April 2017 (see Home Page)

The instructions below are retained in case they become useful for a subsequent round of commenting.

Planning - How To Comment

LINK TO THE PLANNING APPLICATION
Case Reference  Number: 16/02397/FUL
Case Officer: James Allanson (Email: james.allanson@edinburgh.gov.uk, Tel: 0131 529 3946)

How to Comment

  1. It is NOT possible to file a comment via our comistonfarmhouse.com website. Please read on...
  2. It's advisable to read CEC's Guide to commenting on a planning application (PDF, 140.5KB)
  3. Choose which way to make your comment: (A) online, (B) by email, or (C) on paper:
Whichever way you choose, you must include:
• the date
• your name and address
• the reference number of the application [16/02397/FUL]
• the name and/or address of the site [Comiston Farmhouse, 83 Pentland View, Edinburgh EH10 6PT]

Add your email address, and ask to be notified of changes. Mail your letter using a signed-for method, then track it online to prove it has arrived (or if hand-delivered, get a receipt from reception).

METHODS

(A) Online/CEC Planning Portal: Click the link at the top of this page (or, go to CEC's portal at View and Comment on Planning Applications, follow the link to the search page, then use the Reference Number 16/02397/FUL of the application (or "83 Pentland View")  to find it). Click on the "Comments" tab and continue from there. [Note: It seems the online method can only accept plain text (as much as you like apparently), and you can't add attachments (electronic files such as pictures). And a WARNING... YOU GET LOGGED OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES so it may be advisable to type your text into a word processor or a blank email (where you can "save" it) and then paste it into the box. Some people have spent much time writing only to find their text fails to be submitted when the button is clicked. If "online" is not suitable for you, use email or the paper method...]

(B) By Email: Prepare your email and any attachments (include the same reference information as for a paper application... see below). Email them to: James Allanson james.allanson@edinburgh.gov.uk. Ensure that you receive an acknowledgement.

(C) On Paper: You can post (or hand-deliver your letter) to:

Head of Planning and Transport, PLACE, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG.
In all cases:

Remember, for maximum effect, make comments based on relevant planning issues (called "material considerations"), which include:      
• traffic and parking 
• density (4 times that of surrounding "low density residential area") 
• appearance of the area 
• impact on a conservation area 
• setting or character of a listed building 
• loss of significant landscape features 
• noise and disturbance 
• effect of cooking odours 
• loss of sunlight or daylight 
• overshadowing 
• privacy.

Comments on the following WILL BE IGNORED (have no effect one way or the other):     loss of private view • effect of the development on property values • building regulation matters • racist remarks (or similar, which may be reported to the police).

Comments are not confidential, so please write them as if they will become public (we believe on the "Comments" tab of the application's Portal page).

CEC's Planning Helpdesk (Mon-Fri 9am – 1pm): Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG.
Email: planning@edinburgh.gov.uk.   Tel: 0131 529 3550

or

Call the Case Officer assigned to the application, James Allanson: 0131 529 3946.

Listing a building

Around 6 residents lodged applications to have the farmhouse "Listed". We received news on 31 May 2016 that Historic Environment Scotland will NOT grant it Listed status (see Decision documents on Historic Environment Scotland's website HERE).  Anyone interested in seeing what was involved can visit this Historic Scotland page to see what is/was involved. If anyone can think of additional material information that could form the basis for an Appeal, please get in touch.

What's Happened Recently?

The period for public comments on the first version of the planning application ended on Mon 11 July 2016. Modified plans were submitted around 9 February 2017 and a new round of commenting was required (ended Friday 3 March 2017). On Wednesday 19 April 2017, at a Hearing at the Development Management Sub-Committee meeting, planning permission was refused. The developer has the right of appeal, and must exercise that right within 3 months (This is Scottish Law: "There is no right of appeal for anyone else [other than the applicant] to challenge a council’s planning decision or action." For more info on appeals: Click Here.)

In a tremendous response to this planning application, 236 people commented on the original application (Objecting; 234), and for the revised application the count  has risen to 326 (Objecting; 322). To view the list on the "Comments" page of the CEC Portal, click here


[House as lived-in.]

If you are interested, by Clicking Here you can register to be notified when committee agendas, meeting papers, reports and minutes published online on the CEC website. This is the best way to be kept informed in advance (for any planning application).

If you don't want to register, revisit This Link at least twice a week. It generates a list of all meetings papers after 1 February 2017 in which the word "comiston" appears. (A general search for agendas, minutes and reports is here.)

Click Here for a list of meeting dates and which councillors sit on the Development Management Sub-Committee.

Click Here for the general "webcast" page where you could watch the meeting live online or watch it after the event (or HERE for the DMSC meeting of 19 April 2017).

Mock-ups showing "before & after" from Various angles

↓ From the East across Swan Spring Avenue (revised plans Feb '17) ↓

 

↓ Looking south along Cockmylane footpath towards the Pentland Hills  (revised plans Feb '17) ↓

 

↓ Looking south from the air towards the Pentland Hills  (revised plans Feb '17) ↓

 
↓ From the south-east (revised plans Feb '17) ↓
 

↓ Pentland Primary School - Playground (revised plans Feb '17) ↓

 

↓ What would be the price for this to get planning permission? That forecourt space is really wasted; logically it really ought to be re-developed with something appropriate to the area... 

 

Comiston Farm House - threatened with demolition

Comiston Farm House sits in walled grounds at the junction of Pentland View, Pentland Drive and Swan Spring Avenue, in Comiston.  To the postie, it is 83 Pentland View, EH10 6PT.  To many young people and staff of Social Work Department over the years, it was Pentland View Close Support Unit.  To residents of Comiston and children who walk past it daily on the way to school or to the park, it is an essential part of our local heritage, and a place to look out for wildlife.

This much-loved house is now under threat of demolition: a planning application has been lodged to demolish the house, cut down the trees in front of it, (including 2 lovely cedars and 3 lime trees, reckoned to be at least 100 years old), and then build 4 blocks of 5-storey flats on the site - 37 flats in all, with attendant car park space, all squeezed into a little over an acre of ground.

Five storeys will tower above the present house roof level, and over neighbouring properties. This is already an elevated site, so 5 storeys will change the skyline. Such a dense development will also have a huge impact on local road and traffic conditions, increasing the hazards for the children.

Preliminary plans were presented to around 90 residents at a Community Council meeting in April.  Residents were appalled at what was proposed, vociferous in raising their many objections, and are determined both to save the farmhouse and to reject such a dense, unsympathetic and inappropriate development.  Not only would it mean the loss of a much-loved historic building, a link with Edinburgh’s rural and pre-urban past and a significant part of our historical and cultural heritage, the site is on the walk-to-school route to the nearby primary school. This route includes negotiating the junction comprising of 3 roads, the footpath to the local park, and the access gateway to the farmhouse site.  This is already potentially hazardous, especially in winter, as all approaches to it (including the foot path to the park) are up or down hill, with bends, blind corners and/or summits, and limited sight lines. Adding extra traffic from such a dense development would make this significantly more dangerous, especially for young children.

Comiston Farm House came into the possession of the City of Edinburgh Council in 1955, when the last of the Comiston Estate land was sold off, mostly for housing.  After the last tenant of Comiston Farmhouse (George Harwell, founder of Harwells of Colinton), left in 1978, the farmhouse served as a residential facility under CEC Social Work Department, most recently to assist young people in transition who needed short-term placement.  It became ‘Pentland View Close Support Unit’, referring to its purpose rather than its historic name.

Two years ago CEC decided to close the Unit and sell the property.  Last April it was advertised for sale as ‘An Excellent Redevelopment Opportunity’, but apparently only on the commercial development market, not on the housing market.  This is not a brownfield site, and the house is not derelict, though it is currently boarded up (for security), and it is in fact in pretty good shape and could easily be a house to live in again.  The sale notice included the statement ‘Despite its age and character the building [farmhouse] is not listed, nor does it lie within a conservation area.  The Planning Service has determined that the property is a well-proportioned classical villa constructed in stone and of architectural merit and therefore worthy of retention’.  Even so, most of the bids received included demolition of  the house.  If this house and site had been advertised more appropriately, on the housing market as a prospective residence, it would surely have attracted more potential buyers who would appreciate it and preserve it as a house to be lived in.

The current status of the site and farmhouse is ‘sold subject to planning permission’ - that is, still owned by the Council unless and until planning is approved.  If enough objections are raised so that planning permission is denied, then this proposal could fall.   

Historically this is one of rural South Edinburgh’s significant farmhouses, most of which have disappeared under housing developments.  It is the only early Victorian farmhouse south of Edinburgh.  Recent research has revealed copy drawings of the house dated 1859, and it is now considered highly probable that they were by the architect William Notman, who was apprenticed to, then assistant to, William Henry Playfair.

The historic footpath of Cockmylane skirts the perimeter wall to the north and west of the house, and was one of the routes regularly walked by Robert Louis Stevenson between Edinburgh and Swanston. In his day the foot path probably passed between the farmhouse and the farm steadings. 

Also part of the Comiston Estate, Comiston House (1815) has been sympathetically restored and converted into flats. Its predecessor, Comiston Stables, has also recently been restored and converted into a dwelling house.  Both of these are Listed buildings.

Several Comiston residents applied to Historic Environment Scotland for the farmhouse to be Listed, but sadly it was not granted.  Their standards are very high.

More information on Comiston Farmhouse can be found elsewhere on this website.

Listed or not, it would surely be tragic, cultural vandalism to permit the demolition of a house in excellent condition and with such a historical, agricultural and architectural heritage.

View the planning application HERE.

Archived Comments from Guestbook

The "Guestbook" was being used by spammers, so was removed 21/2/2020. Below are the messages submitted prior to the spammers getting hold of the site...

Definitely retain the farmhouse. Ideally it should be restored/renovated as a single family home. If needs be, but far less preferred it should be tastefully converted into 2 or 3 flats as has been successfully done with Comiston House. There could be room for some small development at the rear of the property to make this financially viable, but with heavy emphasis on the small ie cottage style, and this as a last resort.

The future of Comiston Farmhouse is a matter of local concern since it is an essential component of our heritage and sense of Place. To the anonymous contributor (Mr B? DB?) it may be only a planning issue; to us it is our cultural heritage, and must be regarded as such. National policy in Scotland, managed by Historic Environment Scotland, on behalf of Scottish Government, insists that older buildings, especially those pre-1919, must whenever possible be restored and reused - whether they are listed or not. There are about half a million such buildings in Scotland They were craftsman built, and treated with respect will last another century. That is what we seek for Comiston Farmhouse.

Demolish the farmhouse. No permission is required for that to be undertaken. Planning permission is only required for a new build.

I think that most people could not afford over a million pounds for the building and site outright.But I wonder if several parties could financially club together and buy it. For me to be involved, Iwouldneed to sell my home and would need to live there. I realise that that may not suit a consortium.On the other hand, a consortium could have a holistic centre.there, which would a great asset to the community.

Keep farmhouse structure, renovate into nice flats/townhouses, re-use or demolish outhouses and replace with in-keeping other residences with nice gardens and adequate parking for the amount of residences.

Or perhaps a boutique hotel?

Keep existing entrance, wall and trees

Top priority - keep and re-use the house, save all the trees. 
I'd love to see the House lived in as a family home - to see lights on in the windows again. There are several former farmhouses in South Edinburgh which are great precedents and could inspire someone to make CFH a lovely family home. 
From what we have seen of drawings the House could be large enough to split into a couple of flats, and there is space in the rear garden to add a couple, maybe 3 'cottages' - so long as they are not as high as the House. 
The whole could work well as a community house, a small business - maybe a market garden?! 
A significant constraint has to be he problem of access. There is no safe or acceptable way to insert a new entrance to the site from Swan Spring, so it will be necessary to constrain the level of occupancy to within the safe capacity of the original gateway. it has worked OK for 150 years or so. True, it is part of the Pentland View/Drive/Swan Spring/path to park complex, but the sightlines are as good as it gets round here, and with a Stop line across the exit from the gates it should be no worse than when there were 6 or 8 cars there when used by CSU. Also the bin lorries managed fine through the gateway and using the circular driveway.

1. Retain farmhouse, either for residential use, or for small business use (e.g. charity retreat, dentist, architect, care home). 
2. Retain all mature trees. 
3. Retain existing access road (i.e. do NOT create a new access road... the plot's use should be able to be accommodated by the existing access road... as per the last 150 years). 
4. IF any other development is necessary, roof height to be below that of Farmhouse.