NOVEMBER 2008

Borders Community Planning Event

Elphinstone & Buccleuch Estates recently held a Community Planning Workshop for local residents in the village of Newton St Boswells. This event, was an opportunity for residents, local interest groups and community representatives to engage with planning professionals and help establish fundamental planning principles to guide the growth of their village.

Borders Council has approved a large expansion zone to the south and west of the village subject to approval of a masterplan. The master-plan will guide the location, setting, servicing, phasing and design of up to 900 new homes over the next 10 years. Elphinstone and Buccleuch are the principal land owners and have agreed to work together to prepare the masterplan. The developers are also working closely with Scottish Border Council to integrate the expansion area with a parallel strategy to regeneration the village and integrate the proposed new community facilities.

The November event was the second in a series of Workshop events leading to the submission of a planning application later next year. A healthy open dialogue has begun to focus on the most significant issues to improve the quality of the emerging plan and therefore the desirability of the location for both existing and future residents.