DEMOLITION work began this week in Tweedbank as the new Borders Innovation Park starts to take shape.

The Eildon Mill building, which is opposite the entrance to the railway station, is being pulled down to make way for a private sector development.

And the contract for delivering a new £3 million business centre on a neighbouring site, which was originally earmarked for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, was awarded this week by Scottish Enterprise.

Around half of the funding for the £30 million Borders Innovation Park is being provided by central government through the recent City Deal agreement.

The rest of the cash is coming from Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Enterprise, the private sector, and from the public purse via the Borders Railway Blueprint.

Negotiations are well underway with a private company for the sale of the entrance site once the demolition of Eildon Mill is complete.

It is estimated that around 16 jobs will be created with the arrival of the new firm.

And even more jobs will be created - as many as 42 - across the road once the two-story business centre is opened by Scottish Enterprise towards the end of next year.

Edinburgh-based Turner & Townsend were this week awarded the £368,000 consultancy contract for construction and procurement phases of the project.

Nobody from Scottish Enterprise responded to our request for an update on the planned centre.

But Scottish Borders Council were more forthcoming with details of their involvement.

A spokesperson said: “Progress is continuing on the Borders Innovation Park in Tweedbank, which will create employment infrastructure to attract inward investment, new jobs to the area, and allow businesses to start, grow and move to this attractive location with excellent transport links.

“The demolition of the council-owned Eildon Mill building, opposite the train station, began this week, taking around eight weeks to complete.

“Work on a new access road for the new innovation park is also due to begin in early 2019.”

Tree clearing on a further site next to Radio Borders was completed before Christmas.

And discussions with a local manufacturing company about expanding to the Quarry site are at an advanced stage - creating a further 40 or so jobs.

The local authority spokesman added: "Clearance of low quality trees and low level bushes on the Quarry site close to the rail station - to allow a new office development to be located there - began at the end of October and was completed at the end of November."