THE population of Tweedbank could increase by a third if plans by Scottish Borders Council to acquire a vast tract of neighbouring land come to fruition.

The Border Telegraph can reveal that councillors have agreed in private to instruct their officers to open negotiations with the owners of Lowood Estate, which lies between the railway line and the River Tweed, with a view to the local authority buying the land.

It is understood discussions with the family trust which owns picturesque Lowood will take place over the next two months.

If a deal is done, it is anticipated that around 300 houses, in separate phased developments, will be built there over the next two decades.

There are currently around 900 homes at Tweedbank, which was created in the early 1970s and includes 190 acres which were compulsorily acquired from Lowood Estate by the former Roxburgh County Council after a long legal battle.

“Rather than rely on the vagaries of the private construction sector, the council wants to take a proactive role in controlling an area it considers vital for the future economic prosperity of the region now that the railway is here,” said a council source who did not wish to be named.

“Owning the land will allow to council to draw up detailed planning briefs so that new housing, supported by and supportive of the Borders Railway, can be sustainably constructed by developers.

“It will also give the council control of land which will be required if the railway is extended south, thus requiring a new access road into Tweedbank.

“In the shorter term, it will allow the inadequacies of Lowood Bridge [which will be closed for two days next week for safety checks] to be addressed.

“The acquisition proposal has been very hush hush up to now because the council is concerned that private sector interest in the land could push up the price.

“The hope is that the owning trust, which has allowed areas of its land to be acquired for the Borders Railway, may be willing to sell.”

SBC leader David Parker, whose ward includes Tweedbank, told us yesterday: “This is a sensitive issue and I am unable to comment at this stage.”