Gary Copland sought to take advantage of his Newcraighall home’s location next to a patch of grassy open space, and said he had secured agreement from land owners to buy part of it and move his garden fence.

In a change of use application to the council he said the space, which he claimed was mostly a “place for dogs to defecate”, would be used for “bee and butterfly planting”.

However, council officials have refused planning permission, ruling that removing a parcel of land “that is open and regularly accessed by members of the public” would be unacceptable.

The decision came after the neighbouring Newcraighall Primary School raised concerns the proposal, if approved, would make an “already busy area more crowded”.

Council planning officers said: “The principle of the proposal, changing an area of public open space to a private garden is unacceptable in that it would remove a parcel of land that is open and regularly accessed by members of the public.

“The application site has amenity qualities as it is used by members of the public as well as being used as a muster point for the adjacent Newcraighall Primary School in case of emergencies.

“Taking this into consideration, the proposal would represent the loss of a regularly used public space and there would be no wider community benefit.”