Plans approved for Mountain Bike Innovation Centre in the Borders

A planning application submitted in June for the new Centre at Caerlee Mill in Innerleithen was given the green light by Scottish Borders Council yesterday.

The Mountain Bike Innovation Centre will be funded by a £19 million investment from the UK Government as part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, including £4m to be allocated towards the Tweed Valley Adventure Bike Park and Trail Lab.

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) will now press ahead with its plans, beginning with removal of the main building on the Caerlee Mill site, which will be replaced by a new building to house the Centre.

Building works will be led by delivery partner Hub South East Scotland and its main contractor Morrison Construction.

Construction of the new building is then due to start in March 2026, with the aim for the new Mountain Bike Innovation Centre to open its doors in 2027.

Led by SOSE - with support from Scottish Borders Council and Edinburgh Napier University - the Innovation Centre is predicted to contribute £138m in Gross Value Added and create over 400 jobs in the Scottish Borders over ten years.

The Centre will offer a place for businesses - both local and international – to showcase their innovative products in the heart of the UK’s leading mountain bike destination.

The project will also host academics and research by Edinburgh Napier University across the cycling sector.

The Centre will include bike engineering workshop space, brand experience units, events space, offices, meeting rooms and teaching space.

The £350m investment in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, from the UK and Scottish Governments, is made up of £150m for Scotland (£85m from the Scottish Government and £65m from the UK Government) and up to £200m for England from the UK Government. This will be supported by over £100m of funding from local partners.

Russel Griggs OBE, chair of SOSE, said: “With planning permission and a proposed timetable now available, the local community and mountain bike industry can now start to see how our plans are going to become reality.

“We know it has not been a straightforward process, and we thank local people, the mountain bike sector and partners for their patience and support.

“SOSE, with support of partners, will now press ahead to create the new facility, which will allow high value jobs to come to the South of Scotland and maximise the value of mountain biking to the area by getting more products and services designed and made here.”

UK Government Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill said: “I welcome this major step forward towards the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre in Innerleithen opening for business, bringing jobs and investment to the region and attracting riders from across the country and beyond to a world-class facility.

“The UK Government is supporting the project with £19m investment as part of our £65m contribution to Scottish projects in the Borderlands Growth Deal.

“In all, the UK Government is investing £1.7 billion in dozens of important local growth projects and programmes across Scotland over the next 10 years.

“Working with partners, we will deliver a decade of national renewal in our Plan for Change.”