Friday January 23rd 2026
Proposed Tweedbank Care Village
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Work is to start within weeks on a new £24m dementia-friendly care village in the Borders, councillors will be informed next week.
The long-planned Tweedbank Care Village on the Lowood Estate is finally to become a reality when the main works start in March.
The new care village will provide 60 bedrooms with facilities that will support small-group living in flats, with their own living/dining/kitchen areas.
The development marks a sea-change in the way care is delivered locally by supporting small-group living and promoting social inclusion in a safe and non-institutional environment for residents and staff.
The buildings will be set within an secure external environment which provides residents with space for socialising, exercise and connection with nature to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.
Meanwhile, when members of Scoittish Borders Council meet on Thursday, January 29, will also be asked to agree progress on the refurbishment of Deanfield Care Home in Hawick at an expected cost of £8.7m.
The works will enable Deanfield to provide a modern and compliant 20-bedroom care home.
The refurbishment work is planned to commence in September 2026 and will last approximately 18 months.
It will be carried out in a phased approach to minimise disruption to the service and residents.
The refurbishment proposal reflects a shift in care strategy for Deanfield, aiming to retain and enhance existing infrastructure while meeting modern standards and future care needs.
The updated model will include enhanced residential care, nursing care, and bed-based respite services.
The total capital allocation for delivering both Tweedbank Care Village and the refurbishment of Deanfield is a combined £32,974,779.
Meanwhile, the development of Extra Care housing on a site at Stirches in Hawick, owned by Eildon Housing Association (EHA), will be taken forward by EHA.
Inflationary and other pressures has increased to the cost of Tweedbank Care Village from £19.5m in July 2024 to the current cost of £24,013,935.
A report to the committee states: “The reason for this increase was due to design development to meet technical standards and statutory requirements such as Care Inspectorate, Planning and Building Standards, inflationary cost increases, soft market testing returns identified some work packages higher than the cost plan allowances, utility costs – specifically bringing power over Galafoot Bridge.”
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