AN HISTORIC site in the Borders could be partly or fully demolished, a council report says.

According to a report on the Tweedbank Expansion project to be seen by councillors next week, all or part of Lowood House could be set for demolition.

Following marketing and development advice from Savills, six options were drawn up for the future of the mansion which the council obtained after purchasing the Lowood Estate in 2018 for £9.6 million.

The sixth option listed by council officers from the Infrastructure & Environment department was partial or whole demolition of Lowood House.

Partial demolition of the manor house would cost £330,000, and to demolish the whole site would cost £440,000.

The report states: "Demolition of the whole house will increase additional land for development and amenity use.

"Whilst the east wing of the house is attractive and could be retained, the additional cost of modernisation is unlikely to make this a viable option.

"This is considered the preferred option."

In September 2021, an SBC report, which detailed the council's consultation plans for a Neighbourhood Centre which would be "focused around Lowood House", stated: "It is the Council’s vision that this will attract visitors and tourists to the area."

The current annual running costs for Lowood House, not including the cost of repairs, is approximately £20,000.

In the report officers also considered converting the stately home into flats or selling it as a private home.

However, the report states that for eight two/three-bedroom flats in the property "the gap between cost of conversion and likely sale price exceeds £1m, so this is not a viable development proposition".

For use as a private home, the report reads: "Savills advise possible sale price of up to £1m but the limited market for this type of property is slowing."

It added that the sale as a private house would result in the "loss of control of a key area".

Both of these options were seen as "not viable".

The report offers a suggestion that Lowood be converted into a hotel or developed for hospitality use.

But this was also advised against due to "uncertain market conditions" and the small size of the home.

Proposals for the home to be used as an educational facility or be opened up for community use have also been put forward.

In 2022 the council worked with Borders College to create possible redevelopment plans to facilitate catering and hospitality training for students.

However, redevelopment costs were estimated to be £3 million and "not financially viable".

And on possible community use, the report reads: "Savills advise that there is occasionally demand from institutional users or well funded community groups for this type of property however the cost of conversion is likely to have an impact on demand and viability."

Councillors will discuss the report at a full council meeting on Thursday, March 30.