SCOTTISH Borders Council has unveiled plans to convert its own offices into residential flats.

The local authority’s former offices in Kelso, which sit on the corner of Rose Lane and Edenside Road, have stood empty since August 2017, before which they were occupied by the council’s social work department.

The council has now applied to its own planning department to convert the building into five flats.

A design statement, sent from the council’s in-house architect Samuel Hinchliffe, reads: “The building is a one-and-a-half storey structure and is generally of traditional construction with red sandstone walls and slated pitched roofs.

“The building is within Kelso’s conservation area and therefore the proposal has minimal impact on the external facades, just one external door to be converted into a window.

“There is a newer extension to the south east of the building which will be removed as part of this proposal.

“The existing parking area will be retained and offers ample parking provision for the new dwellings, including an accessible parking space.

“A bin store will be provided near to Rose Lane for easy access for collection. The proposal will convert the former offices into five flats: four two-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom flat.

“The existing layout lends heavily to the subdivision for these, likely meaning the building was a residential property at some point in its past.”

Scottish Borders Council said it intended to put the building on the market if the application is approved.

The design statement concludes: “With the town centre within easy walking distance, the conversion to five residencies are favourable and will re-vitalise and maintain the use of this building for a long time to come.”