Education
Regenerating and envigorating local communities.

Ogilvie Construction has handed over the first building in the new Borders Innovation Park, completing phase one of the build programme.

The new facility creates 15,000 square metres of high-quality office space with a car park to the rear and landscaping that ties into the station plaza.

The Borders Innovation Park offices provide the first step in the development of the strategically important Tweedbank Masterplan and is an important destination for new businesses, driving economic growth.

Donald MacDonald, Managing Director, Ogilvie Construction, said:

“We are delighted to have completed this project, creating a high-quality building that provides modern office space for new businesses in the area.  The construction team worked closely with Scottish Borders Council throughout the build programme successfully managing all of the challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic”

The Borders Innovation Park is funded by Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Borders Railway Blueprint programme, as well as £15 million investment secured from the Edinburgh and South East Region City Deal.

Ogilvie Construction is part of the Ogilvie Group and one of Scotland’s most consistently successful family owned businesses.  The company is over 65 years old and employs more than 600 people across its various business operations in the UK.

The next exciting development in the regeneration of Galashiels is a step closer as work gets set to start on creating the Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor attraction.

Stirling-based Ogilvie Construction has been appointed to build the landmark facility for the attraction, which tells the story of Scotland through one of the world’s largest tapestries created by 1,000 people from across the country. 

Work is expected to start in the coming weeks at the town centre site, which will be transformed with the creation of the new building. It has been designed by one of Scotland’s leading architectural practices, Page \ Park, with new images of what it is expected to look like now available.    

The visitor centre – which is accessible from Edinburgh in less than an hour via the Borders Railway - will have a wide range of interactive displays and activities. There will also be exhibitions and events for tourists and locals alike, as well as a gift shop, café with local and seasonal produce, and educational facilities for all age groups.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland – which will be managed by charity Live Borders - will kickstart a new future for Galashiels, alongside a number of other projects which will provide a host of benefits for the town and the Scottish Borders. 

These include the new town trail which will include a sculpture dedicated to Galashiels sweet seller Robert Coltart who wrote the world famous children’s lullaby Coulter’s Candy (Ali Bali Bee). Significant improvements to the town centre are currently being taken forward in partnership with community groups, and a masterplan which aims to transform Galashiels and encourage investment in the wider Borders economy is being progressed.