A land and estates firm has been granted planning approval for a new auction centre by Scottish Borders Council.
H&H Group will maintain and redevelop the historic auction mart in the centre of Newtown St Boswells, 150 years after it was initially created in 1871. The site will be used as a modern livestock auction for the surrounding area.
The development is part of plans to regenerate the town, which requires new affordable homes, with the mart having been earmarked for development for almost 15 years.
During the consultation process, plans suggested using unused mart-land to create a new town centre, featuring retail and leisure facilities, as well as a residential development of mixed and affordable housing and apartments.
The new plans provide two new bays of covered pens - around 2,000 sqm - a new office for H&H staff, two new multi-species auction sale rings, car parking, delivery and servicing accommodation, if there was a demand from organisations concerned.
H&H Group has confirmed that provision could be made for a bank, health centre or school, and that green space is likely to be available for the Newtown St Boswells Show.
Richard Rankin, chief executive at H&H Group, said: “This development has been on pause for nearly three years and today is a fantastic step forward in the right direction. It means we can now have strong conversations and open discussions about what happens next in creating access to the site, and can start taking early steps towards developing affordable housing and a major retail outlet on sites."
Scott Donaldson, managing director for Harrison & Hetherington, which operate the mart, said: “This will ensure it meets the needs of modern-day cattle and sheep sales and livestock trading.
"Now requiring modernisation, our intention is for it to become one of the most cutting-edge marts in Scotland.”
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