THE Borders is in the frame for 30 new jobs after a leading UK timber company was given the go-ahead to expand in Selkirk.

Orgeon Timber Ltd, based in Dunsdale Road, has received the green light by Scottish Borders Council to change of use of a retail unit in the town’s Dunsdalehaugh.

The purpose is to provide additional office space capacity for Oregon, adjacent to their existing operational site, to accommodate an increase in office staff numbers from 30 to 60, split across two buildings to both the north and the south of the proposed site.

The unit has been occupied on a short-term lease by The Surplus Stock Shop. However, that lease is due to expire and the outlet will become vacant.

Oregon Timber Frame Ltd is one of the UK’s largest timber frame manufacturers. It was established in 1998 to specialise in the design, manufacture and erection of timber frame structures for the construction industry.

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Oregon now solely supplies Barratt, one of the major house-builders in the UK, and is one of the Scottish Borders leading employers.

The company has its headquarters in Selkirk with a factory based in Burton-Upon-Trent.

A spokesperson for Galashiels-based Ferguson Planning, on behalf of the applicant, says: “Oregon currently employs 230 people across the factory and office, with 210 of those jobs in Scotland. Their current office holds a maximum of 30 people, but they wish to grow their office capacity to 60 people. An expansion in workload due to recent takeover, has increased the requirement for office-based staff. At present, several staff continue to work from home due to Covid restrictions. However, once restrictions ease, Oregon has limited capacity within their current HQ to accommodate these additional office-based staff members.

“Longer term, Oregon is considering wider proposals to redevelop this site and adjacent lands to expand their current operation and deliver a new purpose-built office. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this separately with the council in due course.”