Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director Assets and Infrastructure.  (Please see separate supplement.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Assets & Infrastructure updating on the development of the outline masterplan and spatial framework which had been developed for Tweedbank following on from the last Council report on 21 December 2017.   The development of the masterplan, by Proctor Matthews Architects, was the starting point against which the Council could begin to fulfil its commitment within the Borders Railway Blueprint and City Deal to maximise the full economic potential of the Borders Railway and comprised a mixed-use development, primarily focused on the delivery of residential and Class 4, 5 and 6 business space.  There remained significant work to be undertaken that would include commencing the formal planning process to adopt the masterplan as Supplemental Planning Guidance, developing a communications and branding strategy which would attract private sector investment through an agreed delivery mechanism, development of business cases for individual projects as they come forward, analysis of risk and detailed costed proposals for the comprehensive development of the area.  A parallel report on the Galashiels masterplan would also be brought to Council but it should be noted these provided and demonstrated fundamentally different approaches.  Galashiels was an established urban centre, therefore the masterplan focused on opportunities for regeneration.  The Tweedbank masterplan was seen as a significant expansion to the existing Tweedbank settlement as well as repositioning the current Tweedbank Industrial Estate as a new Borders Innovative Park.  The masterplan was intended as a ‘vision’ document that demonstrated one architect’s proposals and architectural language for how the area could be developed.  As more formative proposals, and detailed planning applications were brought forward, these would be subject to change and likely to reflect private developer’s aspirations for the site, particularly in relation to the proposed residential development sites.  In response to members questions, the Service Director clarified that there were four Masterplans covering Tweedbank, Galashiels and two from Midlothian, along the length of the railway corridor.  The timeline for the project was anticipated at 15-20 years and it was hoped to attract as much private funding as possible.   The Executive Member for Business and Economic Development welcomed Members’ support for the masterplan and emphasised that this was an opportunity to build on the success of the Borders Railway and attract investors and visitors to the Scottish Borders.  

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     to note the contents of the Tweedbank masterplan document;

(b)    that the Service Director Regulatory Services ensured the masterplan was now used to inform the preparation of a statutory Supplementary Planning Guidance to support the planned future development at Tweedbank;

(c)     that further reports would be brought to Council in respect of the                     development opportunities at Tweedbank outlining:

(i)      how development proposals would strengthen planned investment to deliver strategic outcomes;

(ii)     how the masterplan would be publicised to leverage private sector interest and investment in both the residential element and the Borders Innovation Park; and

(iii)    the most appropriate public/private sector delivery vehicle.