Scottish Borders Community Regeneration Partnership programme has progressed at pace, with projects delivering results across the region.
Scottish Borders Community Regeneration Partnership
22 projects continue to progress, with two transport-focused projects completed featuring increased funding for bus drivers and 11 new vehicles.
The UK Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership initiative aims to tackle regional inequalities by investing in economic development, infrastructure, and community-focused projects across Scotland. Its objective is to strengthen local economies, create employment opportunities, and improve connectivity supporting initiatives such as high street regeneration, enhanced transport links, and the development of innovation hubs.
Following confirmation of funding in April 2025 from the UK Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership initiative, multiple projects across the Scottish Borders have progressed and are delivering improvements to communities.
The Crook Inn Bunkhouse in Tweedsmuir is being developed to complement the existing café project at the historic hotel site. It has progressed rapidly since construction commenced in Autumn 2025, with the overall building structure now formed and timber framing in place. The project is due to complete in September 2026.
A series of public realm works have recently been completed in Hawick, including the clearance, development and landscaping of sites such as Teviot Crescent and Buccleuch Mill. Designs were refined and agreed for an accessible public space and link route at the prominent former Almstrong’s Department Store gap site. This was opened on 3 June, with the new thoroughfare now available to the public. The site has been landscaped, planted and new lighting installed along the path.
Some minor additional works to improve the associated pedestrian crossings points on Teviot Crescent are also proposed for later this year. This aligns with recent consultation on an active travel shared-use path between Hawick and Selkirk, which would pass by the new Center Parcs site near Hawick.
Further works to sites in Hawick and Jedburgh including the Bakery Building and 3-5 Exchange Street are due to complete in Autumn 2026, resulting in significant town centre restoration and improved building safety.
Councillor Scott Hamilton, Executive Member for Economic Growth and Developing the Borders
“The Community Regeneration Partnership is already delivering visible progress across the Scottish Borders, from improvements to town centre sites and public spaces to stronger transport links and investment in community facilities.
“These projects reflect the ambition of our towns and communities, and the importance of working with partners to turn that ambition into practical improvements that will support regeneration, economic growth and long-term benefit across the region.
“It is encouraging to see so many projects moving forward at pace, with further milestones expected over the coming months as this significant programme of investment continues to make a positive difference locally.”
Further updates on individual Community Regeneration projects will be communicated publicly as the programme progresses.
Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal – Scottish Borders
In addition to the progress of the Community Regeneration Partnership programme, we continue to support communities through the Borderlands Place Programme, which forms part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, supported by £20m funding from the Scottish Government. The Growth Deal covers a range of programmes and includes work on active travel, business support and development of a regional tourism offer.
A significant step forward in the Place Programme was taken when three Borderlands Town Investment Plans (BTIPs) were approved in March 2026 for Hawick, Galashiels and Jedburgh, covering ten proposed capital projects emerging from Local Place Plans which have been developed by community groups.
Work is ongoing to develop the Borderlands Town Investment Plan for Eyemouth, and it is anticipated this will be completed in 2026.
The next stage is to develop robust business cases for each project, which would see up to £1.8m of Borderlands Place Programme funding invested in each town between 2026/27 - 2032.
Several other key Scottish Borders infrastructure and engineering projects have progressed in recent months, including Eyemouth Pump Track, which opened for the summer holidays on Friday 26 June. Work on the new Destination Play Park in Earlston is anticipated to be complete in July and works have also started at the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre in Innerleithen as one of the key projects in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, led by South of Scotland Enterprise in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University and Scottish Borders Council.