North Coulston Ltd submitted plans to West Lothian Council and it was validated on March 31.

The developers plan to build 10 houseboats on the quarry just outside Bathgate.

The holiday homes will float on existing water features at the former sand and gravel workings at North Couston Quarry.

The proposed houseboat manufacturer is Hausboot UK and the holiday homes include living cabin with a kitchen, lounge area, shower and toilet, sleeping berths and a boat deck.

Each boat can provide accommodation for up to five people. Boats are fitted with batteries and solar panels as well as water tanks and waste-water tanks, The West Lothian Courier reports.

In a planning supporting statement it was explained that North Couston had instructed Cameron Planning to submit an application for planning permission.

The statement said: “The former quarry has been subject to extensive remediation following the cessation of quarrying activity. The nature of development proposed is essentially the use of the water feature for the mooring of ten houseboats.

“The wider site is in a single ownership and is accessed from the A800 road to Bathgate, just east of the A801 junction.”

It continued:“The proposed development comprises a low-key development of the mooring of 10 houseboats along the northern edge of the eastern basin. The houseboats sit on the water body but will be moored to the shore. The houseboats will be rented as holiday accommodation.

“The area to be used for the houseboats is self-contained and sits within a much larger development site which benefits from an earlier planning permission for a holiday park and associated activities.”

While construction is yet to begin, planning permission had previously been granted at the site in 2012 to build 33 holiday lodges, and subsequent approval was given in 2016 for the formation of a touring caravan site to accommodate 79 pitches, with erection of a toilet/shower block and clubhouse.

Cameron Planning say their application would not prejudice the wider holiday park development of the whole site.