Thursday April 30th 2026
Boiler house
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A remnant of Peebles manufacturing past is to be utilised to support the town’s industrial future.
The old boiler and engine house in Ballantyne Place is an unlisted building within the site boundary of the former March Street Mill development.
Now an application to Scottish Borders Council from Richard Todd, of Ladhope Crescent in Galashiels, for its conversion to a vehicle repair workshop has been approved.
Go-ahead was granted on condition that details of new internal doors, shutters, infill panels and screens be submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority.
The wider March Street Mill site has been developed by Whiteburn Projects for housing.
The boiler and engine house, situated to the north of the site, was retained and made available for employment use.
The engines and boiler were stripped out of both buildings to make them suitable for a range of commercial uses.
Peebles Civic Society offered no objection to the application, a spokesperson saying: “We welcome the reuse of the buildings by a business.
“It is important that these buildings remain as a reminder of the former March Street Mill and wider industrial heritage of Peebles. Overall, the planning application is sympathetic to these aims.”
Ranald Dods, SBC planning officer, in his report approving the application, states: “The council’s Heritage and Design Officer assessed the application and concluded that, on balance, the proposals represent a positive and pragmatic re-use of an increasingly rare remnant of Peebles’ industrial heritage and have the potential to preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area.
“The general approach to alteration is restrained and avoids unnecessary loss of historic fabric. However, given the prominence and sensitivity of the surviving buildings, further detail is required to ensure that the final execution of key elements – particularly external doors, shutters, ramps and fencing -achieves an appropriate level of design quality.
“In order to achieve that, conditions were suggested.”
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