AN Edinburgh consultancy firm is to benefit by almost £1.3 million from the Great Tapestry of Scotland coming to Galashiels after securing a third contract from Scottish Borders Council.

Turner & Townsend has already earned £547,00 for designing the new building on the site of the former Poundstretcher store.

And last week the Border Telegraph revealed that the same consultants have successfully won a £160,000 contract to create a Galashiels town centre masterplan around the planned attraction.

Turner & Townsend have now been handed the project manager contract for the building phase of the visitor centre, worth a further £590,000, as no other companies made a bid during the tendering process.

Scottish Borders Council has defended the initial outlay.

A spokesman told us: "The creation of a new home for the Great Tapestry of Scotland is the first step towards regenerating Galashiels.

"The Council uses a range of consultants depending on the specific needs of an individual project and the appointment of external consultants to assist in the delivery of capital projects is a standard industry practice, whether in the private or public sectors.”

“Project management firm Turner & Townsend were appointed through a nationally procured framework to oversee construction of the facility, and bring contemporary knowledge of delivering quality museum attractions in Scotland, such as the V&A Museum of Design in Dundee which is to open next year."

The local authority believes the £6.7 million project will spark significant economic, social and educational benefits for Galashiels and the wider Borders.

And once the Great Tapestry building opens in just over two years time it will have created 16 new full time jobs.

Officials behind the project believe the £590,000 for project management is money well spent.

The spokesman added: “The contract is to provide a full design team - which includes a project manager, architect, civil and structural engineer, mechanical/electrical engineer and cost manager - through to the project being completed in spring 2020."