A LUXURY wedding venue in Peebleshire has received a blessing from Scottish Borders Council for an extension bid.
Approval has been granted for the extension to an orangery to form an additional floor at the historic Hartree House near Biggar.
The Goddard family bought the 18th century mansion in 2008 and spent £1.8m renovating the property and grounds. The mansion is already a popular luxury wedding venue and the additional orangery extension is set to add to its offer.
In his report, Scottish Borders Council planning officer Ranald Dodds granted approval saying “the works will preserve the listed building and its setting and will not adversely affect its architectural or special interest”.
He adds: “The site is Hartree House, a category C listed building, which lies to the south east of Biggar and within the Tweedsmuir Uplands special landscape area and the locally designed Hartree House historic garden and designed landscape.
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“The proposed extension to the orangery and associated changes can be accepted provided they exactly match the materials and finishes of the existing building.
“The proposed alterations would not be detrimental to privacy. I note that Environmental Health has stated that they do not consider that they have concerns regarding potential impact to neighbourhood residential amenity.”
A castle, known as Hartree Tower, was present on the mansion’s current site by at least the 16th century, but was demolished in the late 18th century by Colonel Alexander Dickson, who rebuilt Hartree House in its place.
In 1901, the property was passed to Elizabeth Dickson after her brother Archibald died unmarried.
The house was used as a school during World War Two, before being converted into a hotel in the post-war period.