A "REALLY positive development" will see 39 affordable homes built next to the Main Street car park in Saline.

Councillors on the west and central planning committee backed Steven Garry's plans for 1.6 hectares of agricultural land to the south of the B913 West Road.

There will be 15 two-storey family homes and 24 single storey bungalows – assisted living properties for older people – as well as a community hub, parking, drainage, infrastructure works and a new access road.

Convener of the committee, Cllr David Barratt, said: "This looks like a really positive development, well designed and spacious, and good to see the air source heat pumps too.

"I've got no objections to it whatsoever."

A wider area to the east and south, totalling 8.4 hectares, is also allocated for housing and in his application Mr Garry, of Peebles, intimated that the 39 affordable homes would be the first of three phases.

The land to the east and south would be developed at a later stage and the council estimate that around 130 homes could be built across the whole site.

Locals submitted 10 objections including concerns about road safety; loss of privacy; loss of agricultural land; the impact on school capacity, nearby listed properties, natural heritage and character of the village; flooding; parking; lack of a play park; disruption during construction; the impact on an underground pipeline; overshadowing and loss of light; increase in crime and anti-social behaviour; and loss of view.

However, council officers recommended approval and the committee agreed.