Alan Carr's castle potting shed plan praised as 'positive and practical'

Plans by comedian Alan Carr to convert a potting shed at his Borders castle into a cafe and shop have been welcomed as "positive and practical" by a council heritage and design officer.

The Celebrity Traitors winner bought Ayton Castle earlier this year with a new TV series planned on his attempts to turn the estate into a workable home.

The proposals for the potting shed and ancillary buildings are the first to be submitted to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) since the purchase.

A consultation response recommends approval of the project with conditions attached to the materials to be used and a photographic record to be gathered before dismantling work begins.

The plans would see some currently vacant buildings in the castle's walled garden turned into a community cafe and estate shop.

It would include public toilets, staff welfare, and storage facilities.

Consultation responses are currently being gathered before the council decides on the fate of the proposals.

However, the local authority's heritage and design officer has recommended approval.

A response said the proposed repair and reuse of the buildings was welcome.

It described the plans as an "appropriate use" for this part of the estate and offered a "credible means of securing investment, continued occupation and future maintenance".

"The proposal would also allow visitors to appreciate the relationship between the potting sheds and walled garden," the response added.

"The intention to support the garden's longer-term restoration is welcomed, although the present applications should be assessed on the works and conservation benefits they would themselves deliver."

It concluded that the plans would - subject to appropriate conditions - "preserve the architectural and historic interest of the listed complex and the character of its designed landscape setting".

The council's archaeology officer has also come down in favour of the scheme.

"The proposed conversion would have a limited impact overall to the historic fabric of the building; indeed the rescue of a derelict historic building is to be welcomed," he said.

He recommended that a condition be attached allowing a full archaeological investigation to be carried out in advance of the work.

The council's roads planning department, however, has requested further information and a revised parking before it can support the application.

Its response said it had not yet been demonstrated that the number of parking spaces being provided was sufficient.