THE next step in the £19 million creation of a Mountain Bike Innovation Centre and Trail Lab at the Caerlee Mill site in Innerleithen is to be made next week.
A full business case for the project will be formally presented to the Scottish Borders Council on January 29. The project received outline business case approval in 2022, with the latest phase forming part of the full business case approval.
If the Councillors and governments endorse the business case, it will be presented to the Borderlands Partnership Board for its final approval in February. The presentation of the full business case to UK and Scottish governments and the Borderlands Partnership Board is part of the standard governance process which applies to all growth deal projects.
If the necessary approvals are secured, Morrison Construction will begin the build of the main building as scheduled in spring 2026, with the aim for the new centre opening its doors in 2027.
South of Scotland Enterprise is leading on the project, with support from Scottish Borders Council, and Edinburgh Napier University.
The demolition of the former Caerlee Mill building was completed last year and enabling works are now taking place on site, all being led by delivery partner Hub South East Scotland and Morrison Construction.
Edinburgh Napier University said that the Innovation Centre and Trail Lab is predicted to contribute £86 million in gross value added and create over 225 jobs in the Scottish Borders over ten years. These figures do not include the expected benefits from the Adventure Bike Park investment, which is not ready for final approval, it added.
The Centre will include bike engineering workshop space, brand experience units, events space, offices, meeting rooms, innovative lab facilities and teaching space. It will focus on research and development and offer a place for businesses – both local and international.
