Penicuik Pergola Plan Approved Despite Some Neighborhood Objections

A green pergola caused a stir in Penicuik. It sits on a driveway in a protected area. Neighbors worried the structure seemed unstable, and they also feared others would copy it on their drives.

Council planners said it was okay because they approved the pergola’s planning application. The stability of the structure wasn’t their concern. Decorations bothered some neighbors due to security lights, but planners called these issues a private matter.

The planners visited the home at the end of a dead-end street. While “unusual,” the pergola follows policy, and its location suggests it won’t inspire copies.

Officers approved the application for various reasons. The garage and pergola sit back from the house, and it’s lightweight and painted green, matching local fences and windows. It isn’t prominent and doesn’t harm the area, so planners don’t see it as setting a trend.

Four people objected to the pergola. They claimed it looked messy, caused shade, and felt it ignored the conservation area.

The homeowner defended the pergola, stating that concrete bolts secure its posts. He added that personal decorations are irrelevant because property rights are not up for debate.