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Search the Public Notice PortalA couple seeking to “escape racism” in England will make a planning plea to a Scottish Borders Council (SBC) committee next week.
Dr Johnatahn Mukwiri and his wife Rebecca Mukwiri were refused planning approval by SBC for a new home on land at Greenriggs at Greenlaw in Duns.
They had purchased prime agricultural land from a local farmer for the purpose of growing fruit and vegetables for sale at a local market.
Planners refused the application on the grounds there is “no operational requirement for a dwelling-house in this location for use by agricultural workers as there is not an established agricultural enterprise in this location”.
When members of SBC’s Local Review Committee meet on Monday, April 13, they will be asked to overturn the decision.
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The couple, who describe themselves as “black British”, say that Mrs Mukwiri had suffered racism during her employment in England, where they have a home.
A report to the committee states: “I (Jonathan) have a good professional job (a lawyer with a PhD, working as associate professor in corporate law), my wife (Rebecca) has a stressful unprofessional job (as a patient care adviser).
“For years, Rebecca suffers overt racism in her employment. To overcome this racism, we decided we buy land so that Rebecca may be self-employed to earn her livelihood by agriculture.
“Rebecca is outstandingly skilled in growing fruit and vegetables and needed only a small land to earn a living greater than she earns from her stressful employment.
“In 2025 we purchased from a very kind Scottish farmer a prime agricultural land in Scotland.
“Our motive has never been to build a house as if we needed to own a house in life, we already own a three-bedroom bungalow in England.
“All we have ever desired is for Rebecca to escape racism in employed sector and be self-employed in agricultural sector.
“We own a house in England, but it is without land; we own land in Scotland, but it is without a house. We have been farming in England on our 0.25-acre garden for seven years for our own consumption.
“With this real-life experience, we aim to grow fruit and vegetables for the market in Scotland. We need a dwelling on site to do this farming.
“What stands between us and a farming career, is permission for a dwelling. We plead with the Local Review Body to grant us permission to build on land for the viability of our small farm.”
