PLANS to boost tourism in Limekilns by copying the success of South Queensferry's Orocco Pier have been approved.

The owners of the Limekilns Hotel and Bistro, at 40 Main Street, have got permission to build a one-and-a-half-storey extension at the back of their premises to create five new bedrooms.

It will add to the existing six bedrooms and will see the bistro's capacity reduced from 70 seats to 30 as part of a move to focus on “good-quality local food" and a "more efficient" business.

A statement from their planning agents explained: "There is an opportunity here for the regeneration of the Limekilns Hotel and Bistro to be a catalyst to the local community, similar to South Queensferry with the regeneration of Orocco Pier.”

An existing single-storey extension will also be demolished to make way for the new building.

Previous proposals were rejected in 2016 by the council and, after an appeal, the Scottish Government.

The revised application included a reduction in the height of the new building and was granted by councillors at the west planning committee last week.

The agents had said: “The extension will bring the building up to modern standards and achieve the requirements of the business model to make it a more efficient bistro offering good-quality local food, whilst knitting into the local community, supporting local businesses, pubs and shops.

“At the same time, it will boost local tourism and help to sustain Limekilns as an important destination.”

There were 40 letters of support, including one from Charlestown, Limekilns and Pattiesmuir Community Council, and 10 objections to the plans. Concerns included the effects on parking and the disruption from construction noise, dust and traffic, the impact on the conservation area and the lack of a bat survey.

A council report that went to the committee stated: "The proposal is considered to be compatible with its surrounds in terms of land use; would not cause any detrimental impacts on surrounding residential properties or road safety and would also have no detrimental visual impact on the surrounding area or adjacent Limekilns Conservation Area."