Mountain bike centre construction to start within weeks

Work will begin within weeks on a mountain bike innovation centre in the Borders after a £15.5m funding package was approved.

The Borderlands Partnership Board has given the all clear for the UK government investment through the area's inclusive growth deal.

Construction work on the main building in Innerleithen will begin in the spring with completion expected next year.

Plans to refurbish the former Caerlee Mill in the town were ultimately abandoned as the costs were too great and it has been demolished instead to make way for the new centre.

It is hoped the project can deliver a multi-million pound boost and more than 225 jobs in southern Scotland over the next 10 years.

It is being led by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University and Scottish Borders Council (SBC).

Council leader Euan Jardine said the development could help "reinforce the region's reputation as a world-leading destination for mountain biking".

Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said it was "great news" the work could get started and it would bring "jobs and investment" to the area.

The mountain bike centre is one of the key projects in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

Signed in 2021 - with funding from both the Scottish and UK governments - it is supporting a wide range of developments in five council areas on both sides of the Scotland-England border.

Russel Griggs, who chairs SOSE, said: "This approval allows us to kickstart the build of the new mountain bike innovation centre.

"The centre will be a flagship for research, development and innovation, and transform the economic and social opportunities in the area.

"Work will begin at pace with partners to make sure the centre can provide the solutions and services the industry and region want."