THE owners of March Street Mill have revealed plans for the development of residential accommodation within the redundant five-acre site – despite an overwhelming desire in the town to keep it as a community asset.

A public exhibition was held at the disused Peebles mill on June 28, where locals were invited to give their feedback on the options for re-development.

Following this, it has emerged that owners Moorbrook Textiles plan to transform the property into a mixture of detached residences, townhouses, three and four storey blocks of flats, and terraced housing.

They said there was also potential for community uses and the continued use of part of the site by local allotment-holders.

The historic mill closed last year with the loss of 87 jobs, bringing an end to an industry that had occupied the site since 1884.

Plans for what to do with the redundant buildings have been ongoing since, with the Peebles Community Trust (PCT) fighting for it to be maintained as a community hub, with a whole host of assets and resources for the town.

PCT Chairman David Pye fears that the proposed development could result in 80 new homes that the town “doesn’t need”.

A public survey about the future of the mill was circulated by the trust and Mr Pye said that preliminary results show housing to be the least-favoured option.

“We don’t need all these new homes,” Mr Pye said. “We need to turn the loss of employment in Peebles into something that benefits the town, rather than just a property developer.”

More than 500 houses have been added to Peebles since the year 2000, and Scottish Borders Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) requires that land is identified for an additional 980 houses across the whole of the Scottish Borders.

PCT believe that it is therefore no coincidence that the proposals are coming at this time.

Peebles Community Trust Coordinator Crick Carleton added: “We favour an integrated plan for development that is heavily focused on economic activity and the provision of jobs and long-term employment.

“The Peebles Community Trust is not opposed to some housing on the site, but strongly believes that the overall balance should be one in favour of employment and community benefit.

"Incorporate generous economic development on this site as part of the overall plan and a ‘reasonable’ allocation of housing units becomes more acceptable.”

The Trust is advocating that the ground floor of all buildings should be put over to commercial or economic use – such as offices, workshops, social spaces, meeting facilities – and that at the core of the site should be a large public, non-residential facility.

“This could include a much-needed medical centre, a training centre or a social hub,” added Mr Carleton.

Moorbrook Textiles said they will be engaging with PCT over the next few weeks.

“We appreciate there is a high level of interest in the mill’s future use, and it was gratifying that around 70 residents and local councillors took time to visit the exhibition,” said Finance Director Andrew Menzies.

“It was clear there is strong support for retention of allotment facilities within the site and for commercial and community use of the site.

"People have also accepted that residential development will play a part.

“We recognise that when we bought that site in 1996 it came with a responsibility to look after a legacy.

"Of course, there was an understandable disappointment amongst attendees at the loss of one of the last industrial employers in the town.”

A follow up exhibition is planned for Friday, August 19, where Moorbrook will present updated proposals once the results of a public survey, for which the deadline is today, have been gathered.

Moorbrook then intends to lodge a planning application with the council.