Tuesday March 24th 2026
Eildon development site
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A stamp of approval is being recommended for almost 100 new homes on a Borders greenfield site.
The Belfast-based property developer The Mayfair Group is seeking approval for 96 homes on land adjacent to Sprouston Burn and Melrose Road at Eildon.
The application site is greenfield land to the north-west of Newtown St Boswells measuring 5.32ha in size and is broadly square in shape.
The north-west boundary of the site has steep mounds which are understood to be the remnants of a former Prisoner of War camp.
The site is otherwise largely undeveloped and predominantly covered in grass scrub with some self-seeded trees, and it is understood the field is regularly accessed informally by the local community for walking.
The application seeks consent for market housing and affordable units, with a range of detached, semi-detached, terraced properties and bungalows.
Ten objection comments have been received by Scottish Borders Council regarding the density of the housing development, harm to environment, including removal of trees and vegetation, and inadequate access.
But when members of SBC’s Planning & Building Standards Committee meet next week they will be recommended to give the proposal the green light – despite concerns over the lack of a pedestrian bridge.
A report states: “Whilst the lack of a pedestrian bridge link across the Sprouston Burn connecting the site to education and community facilities, and the wider Newtown St Boswells area to the south is contrary to the site’s Local Development Plan allocation requirements, subject to compliance with the schedule of conditions the development is considered, on balance, to be acceptable and is of high quality and sustainable.
“The proposals otherwise comply with the relevant provisions of the development plan and will provide much needed housing on an allocated site, and there are no material considerations that would justify a departure from these provisions.”
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