Scottish Borders Housing Association has received approval to build 59 affordable homes on the site of the former Heather Mills in Selkirk, after councillors backed the Whinfield Road project. The mill shut in 2009 after almost 150 years and was badly damaged by fire about a decade later before being demolished.
The planning committee heard there were some concerns about the loss of trees and an increase in traffic, but a planning report stated that "on balance" the proposals were considered acceptable. Councillors agreed and gave the project the all clear.
Scottish Borders Council declared a housing emergency more than two years ago, after a report highlighted the "significant challenges" the local authority faced in ensuring people had access to homes that met their needs. The Local Democracy Service reported at the time that applications for social housing properties had doubled in five years, with SBHA receiving 104 bids for just five new homes at its latest development in Kelso.
SBHA chief executive Julia Mulloy said: "Scotland is facing a housing emergency, and developments like this are part of the solution."
Planning committee councillor Sandy Scott told a meeting on Monday that the plans constituted a "very welcome and exciting application". He said: "We have a housing emergency. The plan is to build 9,000 new homes in the next 10 years across the Scottish Borders and this fits that."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The approval adds 59 affordable homes in Selkirk, a town where the former mill was once one of the biggest employers.
- It comes as Scottish Borders Council works towards a target of 9,000 new homes over 10 years, set against a declared housing emergency.
- The decision signals how former industrial land in the Borders is being reused for social housing.
Background
Heather Mills operated in Selkirk for almost 150 years before closing in 2009. The building was badly damaged by fire about a decade later and was subsequently demolished. Scottish Borders Council declared a housing emergency in 2024, citing difficulties in providing homes that met residents' needs.
Key Perspectives
- Julia Mulloy, SBHA chief executive: says Scotland is facing a housing emergency and developments like this are part of the solution.
- Councillor Sandy Scott, planning committee: called the plans a "very welcome and exciting application" and said they fit the council's plan to build 9,000 new homes in 10 years.
- Planning report: acknowledged concerns about loss of trees and increased traffic but concluded the proposals were acceptable "on balance".
What to Watch
- Progress on the Whinfield Road site, including when construction is expected to begin.
- How the council's wider 9,000-home programme advances across the Scottish Borders.
- Whether concerns about trees and traffic lead to conditions on the development.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Selkirk mill site was approved for 59 affordable homes.BBC Scotland: “Now Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) has received approval to build 59 affordable homes on the site.”
- SupportedSBHA received consent for the Whinfield Road development on the former Heather Mills site.BBC Scotland: “The Heather Mills shut in 2009 after almost 150 years and was badly damaged by fire about a decade later - it was subsequently demolished. Now Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) has received approval to build 59 affordable homes on the site. ... Councillors agreed and gave the Whinfield Road project the all clear.”
- SupportedThe Heather Mills shut in 2009 after almost 150 years.BBC Scotland: “The Heather Mills shut in 2009 after almost 150 years”
- SupportedThe mill was badly damaged by fire about a decade later and subsequently demolished.BBC Scotland: “was badly damaged by fire about a decade later - it was subsequently demolished.”
- SupportedScottish Borders Council declared a housing emergency more than two years ago.BBC Scotland: “Scottish Borders Council declared a housing emergency more than two years ago.”
- SupportedA report highlighted significant challenges for the local authority in ensuring people had access to homes meeting their needs.BBC Scotland: “It came after a report highlighted the "significant challenges" the local authority was facing in ensuring people had access to homes which met their needs.”
- SupportedA planning report said the proposals were acceptable “on balance”.BBC Scotland: “However, a planning report stated that "on balance" the proposals were considered acceptable.”
- SupportedThe number of social-housing applications had doubled in five years, according to the Local Democracy Service.BBC Scotland: “The Local Democracy Service reported at the time that the number of applications for social housing properties had doubled in five years”
- SupportedSBHA received 104 bids for five new homes at its latest development in Kelso.BBC Scotland: “with SBHA receiving 104 bids for just five new homes at its latest development in Kelso.”
- SupportedSBHA chief executive Julia Mulloy said, “Scotland is facing a housing emergency, and developments like this are part of the solution.”BBC Scotland: “Chief executive Julia Mulloy said: "Scotland is facing a housing emergency, and developments like this are part of the solution."”
- SupportedSandy Scott called the plans a “very welcome and exciting application”.BBC Scotland: “SBC's planning committee councillor Sandy Scott told a meeting on Monday that the plans at Heather Mills constituted a "very welcome and exciting application".”
- SupportedSandy Scott said the plan was to build 9,000 new homes across the Scottish Borders in the next 10 years.BBC Scotland: “"The plan is to build 9,000 new homes in the next 10 years across the Scottish Borders and this fits that."”