WORK will soon begin on a £30 million Innovation Park in Tweedbank.

Up to 350 jobs will be created when the ambitious project is completed.

Last week Scottish Borders Council awarded a major contract for the first phase of the development, close to the railway terminus.

Stirling-based Ogilvie Construction won the £5.8 million contract for a two-storey complex, as well as car parking and a landscaping scheme to tie in with the train station plaza.

Around 1,500 square-metres of new office space will be created with the initial phase of works.

Scottish Borders Council confirmed that the contract for the first building had been awarded.

But the authority wasn't yet in a position to provide timescales and other information.

A spokesman said: "Ogilvie Construction has been appointed to take forward the development of the Borders Innovation Park in Tweedbank.

“Further information will be provided in the coming weeks on the development.”

The development at Tweedbank is being partly funded with £15 million as part of the Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal.

Although the City Deals came in for criticism earlier this month from Audit Scotland regarding a lack of performance-measuring, it is hoped that the Borders share of the cash will help generate around 350 jobs at the Innovation Park.

On agreement of the funding last year business councillor Mark Rowley told us: "The Central Borders Innovation Park will create skilled employment opportunities through the creation of much-needed high quality office and industrial space.

"This will maximise the potential of the Borders Railway, which strengthens the case for its extension, and will encourage business start-ups, long-term growth and business moves to a location with excellent transport links.

“The funding from the City Region Deal is the final piece of the jigsaw for this project, and with work already underway on the ground, I look forward to the first long term jobs being created soon.”

The three-phase Innovation Park is being further funded by Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Enterprise and the private sector.

Last year a £3 million business centre contract was awarded last year by Scottish Enterprise for a neighbouring site.