MORE than 670 jobs could be created after Scottish Borders Council purchased an estate near Tweedbank.

The local authority has acquired the Lowood Estate for £9.6 million.

And council bosses believe development on that site, along with four others on the Borders Innovation Park, will bring new opportunities for Borderers.

Councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for business and economic development, said: “There are a series of opportunities for significant development on some key sites in Tweedbank, with many of those well progressed.

This will be carried out and funded by the council, a range of partners including Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, and the private sector.

“We look forward to all these coming to fruition and seeing very substantial employment opportunities, both in the construction phase and longer term, which is extremely exciting for the whole of the Scottish Borders due to the wider economic benefits this would provide.

“In addition, by acquiring Lowood Estate the Council now controls a vital site which has significant development potential for both the public and private sector, associated employment benefits and the scope for the delivery of a large number of homes.

“The development potential of these sites has been hugely boosted by the presence of the Borders Railway. By maximising the economic impact of the railway in its current form we strengthen the case for its potential future extension to Hawick and beyond.”