SELKIRK is set for a new multi-million pounds super building in its Market Square.

Early plans to extend and enhance the Town Hall were unveiled this week by regeneration project officer Colin Gilmour.

As well as housing the Sir Walter Scott’s Courtroom museum the new building will be home to the town’s library, tourist information, and council contact centre.

There will also be new exhibition spaces, retail outlets and a cafe within the three storeys.

Mr Gilmour said: “Over the last couple of years Scottish Borders Council has looked at enhancing the courtroom building.

“We are now at the stage where a wrap-around building is a real possibility.

“The council is now in control of all of the land around the courthouse.

“There is an opportunity here to do something really special - it is an opportunity to bring a lot of facilities together while creating exhibition space and other attractions.” Scottish Borders Council bought the neighbouring Cross Keys Inn last year to be used as a community hub.

And it is expected that a lift system will be fitted inside the former pub building to create disabled access to the courthouse museum.

The local authority has now acquired land and buildings behind the Town Hall to allow for a further wrap-around building to be constructed.

Mr Gilmour added: “The project is at a very early stage.

“We now want to ask the community what they would like to see in the building. There are opportunities for a lot of different activities - we want to create something with a buzz that will be open from 9am to 9pm every day and attract visitors to the town.” Selkirk Town Hall, which was originally built in 1803 as a courthouse, is only one of five town halls in Scotland to have a spire.

Sir Walter Scott dispensed justice for more than 30 years from the bench.

And recent refurbishment work has brought the interior of the building back to its original Georgian state.

Around £270,000 is earmarked by the Selkirk Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) to renovate the 110-foot spire.

But separate bids, including a £1.2 million application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, will be made for the new super building project.

Selkirkshire councillor Michelle Ballantyne said: “At the moment the Courtroom has a limited use.

“This is potentially very exciting for Selkirk.

“We need to make the town centre as attractive as we can and this is a good way to go about it.” Initial plans for the new super building show around 950 square-metres of floor space will be created over three floors.

Talks took place yesterday (Tuesday) with the business tenants who occupy the street-front retail spaces about the changes.

And a series of community consultation events are planned for the coming weeks and months.

It is expected that the new building will open in 2020.

Graeme Easton, chair of Selkirk Community Council, said: “The town centre has been as it is for about 250 years - I don’t think waiting another five years on something like this is too long to wait.”