The plans propose the conversion of the category B listed Gattonside House into 14 residential flats alongside the restoration of two other listed buildings on the estate, as well as 34 new homes - with 12 of them being affordable. 

More widely, a café and padel courts are also included in the proposals. The house types have been designed to relate to the character of the site as well as its surroundings. 

For 17 years, Gattonside House has been vacant. The decay that is tied to that period of vacancy is now worsening. According to condition surveys commissioned by Fortis Homes since it acquired the estate nine months ago, measurable additional deterioration during that period has been found, such as wet and dry rot in the building, which has prompted the collapse of the majority of the internal structure. 

The application from Fortis Homes comes after two pre-application processes and a programme of community and stakeholder engagement. 

This includes two Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) engagement events hosted at Gattonside Village Hall, meetings with local and district councillors, and a site walkaround which saw over 50 residents and stakeholders.

The feedback given during the consultation stage has been reviewed. Additionally, where possible, the feedback has been reflected in the proposals presented to Scottish Borders Council.

This includes Fortis Homes’ decision not to move forward with the initially proposed holiday lets, after concerns were expressed during the engagement process.

Doug Innes, managing director of Fortis Homes, said: “Gattonside House is a building worth saving, and the case for saving it is getting harder every month it stands open to the elements.

“In the nine months we have owned the building, we have watched its condition move in one direction, and we are now at the point where prompt intervention is the difference between restoration and loss.”

Innes added: “This has not been a straightforward development to make work. The cost and complexity of restoring a listed building of this scale, with its multiple and unpredictable risks, are considerable.

“The submitted design provides a financially viable route to restoration, funded through a carefully considered mix of affordable and private homes.”