PREMIER Inn has walked away from plans to build a hotel in Tweedbank as part of the Borders Gateway project, a spokesperson has confirmed.

Approved proposals for the development next to the Melrose roundabout included a 71-bedroom hotel along with a Costa drive-thru and BP petrol station.

However, a Premier Inn spokesperson has told the Border Telegraph that a hotel in Tweedbank is “currently unviable”.

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The spokesperson said: “We were working with a development partner to bring Premier Inn to Tweedbank Drive in Galashiels.

“The contract we agreed with our development partner has now expired and having re-appraised the proposed 71-bedroom hotel in the current economic climate, it is currently unviable for [owner] Whitbread.

“Galashiels continues to be a target location for Premier Inn and we remain on the look-out for suitable sites in the town.”

Relationships with New Land Assets – the company responsible for the development – remain positive, according to the spokesperson.

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Four new Premier Inn hotels have been opened in Scotland this financial year – one in each of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamilton and the Highlands.

The website for the Borders Gateway development is “currently being updated” – with all the logos of the companies involved removed.

Construction of the retail park had to be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A completion date for the site has yet to be announced.