Planning application approved for Mavisbank House

The Landmark Trust’s mission to save Mavisbank House in Midlothian has crossed another milestone, 18 months after a breakthrough grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Midlothian Council has this week approved Landmark's planning and listed building consent application for a vital aspect of the phase one works to Mavisbank House, made all the more acute following recent masonry falls.

Campaigners have laboured for decades to save the architectural gem. Its terrible condition and uncertain ownership had left this ‘Category A’ masterpiece in a marooned, derelict and highly perilous state.

We still await a decision on the planning application for the creation of a new drive to access the house, without which the building works cannot begin.

Both planning applications for the house are only for phase one – Rescue – of our two-phase project. This will involve the consolidation of the ruinous shell, with urgent repairs and stabilisation to address the major defects, including subsidence, that have arisen following the catastrophic fire in the 1970s and the subsequent 50 years of decay. At the end of this phase, the scaffolding birdcage within the building that has kept it standing for 30 years will be removed and the structure will be stable and safe for carefully managed public access. This will provide the essential basis from which we can pursue phase two – Restore - in which we hope to reroof and refloor the house, bringing it fully back to life.

Approval for driveway still needed

Both phases are dependent on the application for the drive being approved as soon as possible, to create a new access route to the house. Currently there is no established legal right of vehicular access to the house, the historic drives having been sold off or abandoned in the mid-20th century. This is one of the main reasons why its restoration has never previously been achieved.

The new drive follows as much as possible the historic east drive which hugs the side of the Esk Valley and allows glimpses of Mavisbank on the approach to the house. The route of the proposed access drive, put forward by the local community as their preferred option during a public consultation event in 2025, is the only viable option - all of the other potential options having been discounted on the basis of land ownership constraints, technical feasibility or visual impact.

The precise alignment was closely informed by extensive ecology and tree survey work to ensure any impacts on flora and fauna will be minimised and fully mitigated. No ancient or veteran trees will be removed and sensitive compensatory planting will be delivered.

Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of the Landmark Trust says:

“We are absolutely thrilled to have secured planning permission for the works essential to the rescue of Mavisbank, but this is only possible with a driveway. For half a century the lack of access to the site and the perilous condition in which it stands have been two of the great obstacles to its salvation. These two consents represent a real leap forward in the journey to save this jewel of a building”.