Hundreds of construction jobs are expected to be created as Scottish Borders Council announced the development of five sites in Tweedbank.

The developments include four sites on the Borders Innovation Park and Lowodd Estate, which the council recently purchased.

The Border Innovation Park development could see the creation of approximately 160 construction and a further 160 permanent jobs following completion.

The multi-use development of parts of Lowood Estate, acquired for £9.6million, could create an estimated 179 new jobs as well as 173 construction jobs.

The Tweedbank Masterplan identifies the potential for new residential and business space development on Lowood Estate, as part of a wider Tweedbank expansion proposal. This would seek to attract existing and new residents and businesses moving into the area, including those who would wish to use the nearby Borders Railway as a key transport mode.

-- Advertisement --

The prospectus also identifies opportunities to expand Tweedbank village and reposition the current industrial estate as a new Borders Innovation Park.

The Tweedbank Masterplan was developed as part of the Borders Railway Blueprint Programme. It was carried out at the same time as a similar piece of work on Galashiels.

Councillor Mark Rowley, Executive Member for Business and Economic Development, said: "There are a series of opportunities for significant development on some key sites in Tweedbank, with many of those well progressed. This will be carried out and funded by the Council, a range of partners including Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, and the private sector.

"We look forward to all these coming to fruition and seeing very substantial employment opportunities, both in the construction phase and longer term, which is extremely exciting for the whole of the Scottish Borders due to the wider economic benefits this would provide.

"In addition, by acquiring Lowood Estate the Council now controls a vital site which has significant development potential for both the public and private sector, associated employment benefits and the scope for the delivery of a large number of homes.

"The development potential of these sites has been hugely boosted by the presence of the Borders Railway. By maximising the economic impact of the railway in its current form we strengthen the case for its potential future extension to Hawick and beyond."