EXISTING allotments will be retained under current plans for a housing development on an historic Peebles site, according to developers.

The latest proposals for the project at the town’s March Street Mill will be showcased later this month.

Nearly 170 people attended an initial consultation event on the plans held in February.

Concerns were raised last year that allotments could be lost after Ayr-based Moorbrook Textiles set out its intention to sell the site for redevelopment.

But Edinburgh-based Whiteburn, which announced it had bought the land in October, confirmed that existing allotments would be saved.

It added that it was preparing to deliver a range of ‘contemporary private new homes’ as well as affordable properties.

Roger Bainbridge, director of design and delivery for Whiteburn Projects, said: “March Street shows our continued commitment to deliver quality homes for local people in the Scottish Borders.

“As we progress towards making a planning application for this development, it is important to us that we understand and consider the views of as many members of the local community as possible. We were very pleased that our first consultation event in February was so well-attended.

“Since then, we have carefully reviewed the feedback that we have received from local people who have indicated that they are largely supportive of our designs. This includes our proposal to retain the existing allotments and provide new green space within the development.”

Whiteburn will host its next public consultation event on Thursday, March 23, between 4-7pm at the Eastgate Arts Centre.

“Our second event will give us an opportunity to show how we have evolved our design aspiration for March Street in Peebles and to once again take the local community’s views into consideration as we develop and finalise our proposals for the site,” said Mr Bainbridge.

“March Street is a fantastic location, a short walk from the High Street and amenities of the town, it is a true 20-minute neighbourhood. We look forward to further engagement with all key stakeholders as we develop our proposals to create a vibrant and beautiful place to live.

“It remains our aspiration that our proposed development at March Street will provide a natural extension to the existing and vibrant community of Peebles, delivering a choice of new homes that will appeal to local people or those who want to enjoy the fantastic quality of life living in this Scottish Borders town.”