'This is probably the single most important planning application in the history of Galashiels

As published by Border Telegraph Thursday, 18th February, 2010
by Ally McGilvray


FEARS have been voiced that a supermarket could be built next to the historic home of Sir Walter Scott - if plans for a new visitor centre on a neighbouring site are approved.

Drew Tulley, former leader of Scottish Borders Council, spoke out at a meeting of Galashiels and Langlee Community Council after members were shown plans to develop Abbotsford House, near Galashiels, into a world-class tourist attraction.

He pointed out a number of planning applications for the site earmarked for the visitor centre car park had been rejected to protect the area from overdevelopment.

The former planning convener revealed that before the first house was built in Tweedbank it was agreed there would be no building in the field between the village and the A-listing building.

Speaking from the public gallery, MrTulley said: "I am a great supporter of Abbotsford but my fear is if these plans are approved it could open the way for commercial development in that field.

"We could of had a supermarket or non-food outlet there already had we not turned them down because there has been a lot of interest shown in that field in the past, and any development would weaken the case for future planning applications on what has been green belt land up until now."

The Abbotsford Trust argued it proposed to build the car park within a line of trees bordering the field and the Border Abbeys Way and revealed Scottish Borders Council and Historic Scotland were supportive of their plans.

Last month, the Border Telegraph revealed it has applied to Scottish Borders Council for planning permission to build a new visitor centre and cafe within the grounds, upgrade the main building and create a new large car park on adjacent farmland.

It also wants to create self-catering visitor accommodation in the Hope Scott Wing to cater for up to 12 people, as well as new interpretation facilties to conserve the collections inside - and a playpark inspired by characters from Sir Walter Scott's books.

The Trust has already secured much of the £10million required to upgrade the 200 baronial mansion with grants from various public bodies.

However, it has warned if it doesn't win enough support for the plans, Abbotsford - which is already losing £100,000 a year - will be forced to close within three years.

Tony Taylor, from The Abbotsford Trust, said: "This is an exceptionally important project which aims to create a legacy for one of the region's most important sons and through this, to help to attract more visitors to the area.

"It's an enterprise in which all Borders residents have a stake so we want to get as much feedback as possible before putting our final plans forward to Scottish Borders Council.

"Abbotsford needs to develop into a financially viable, world-class visitor attraction which is why these plans are so important.

"Visitor requirements are changing and there is immense competition from other regions so we need to create something very special that will make Abbotsford and Sir Walter Scott relevant to today's audiences and encourage as many people as possible to come here.

"In Scott and Abbotsford, we have a globally famous asset here in the Borders and we believe it's time to capitalise on that and establish Abbotsford as a heritage tourism focal point for the region from which we can all benefit."

But he added: "The support of the Borders public is crucial and we look forward to hearing their views."

Pre-planning consultations are underway with Community Councils in Selkirk, Melrose, Tweedbank and Galashiels in advance of an eventual planning submission to Scottish Borders Council. A larger public consultation event is also being planned for the coming weeks.

The consultations will inform those attending about the overall aims of the project and how it has progressed to date and will give them the chance to comment about the outline plans that have been developed for the house, visitor access and parking and a new visitor reception building.

All plans for the development of Abbotsford will depend on the Trust raising the necessary funds to take them forward. Fundraising efforts are currently underway and a final application for grant of over £4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund will be submitted later this month with a decision expected in May.

However, if the plans are approved and all funds raised, work could start on building the new visitor centre in September 2010 and be open in June 2011 and the project be completed by 2013.

Following a presentation on the plans at Galashiels and Langlee Community Council last week, community councillor Peter Roden said: "This is probably the single most important planning application in the history of Galashiels."

And community councillor Murray Dickson, President of the Old Gala Club, added: "From the historical society's point of view we fully support any development that attracts more visitors to Abbotsford and keeps the memory of Sir Walter Scott alive."

Rob Roy and Ivanhoe to get a modern £10m home in the Borders

As published by The Scotsman
10 February 2010

By BRIAN FERGUSON

TRUSTEES spearheading a £10 million campaign to transform the Borders home of one of Scotland's most celebrated writers have unveiled the first images of a new visitor centre to be built beside it.

The planned visitor centre at Abbotsford House, complete with café and shop, has been designed to fit in with the landscape, trustees say

They have also revealed that work is due to begin this year on a long-awaited restoration of Abbotsford, built by Sir Walter Scott near Melrose in the early 19th century.

The enduring legacy of the creator of the Waverley novels, Rob Roy and Ivanhoe will be explored in the striking new complex, to be built in a woodland area about 500 metres away from the existing baronial mansion.

The new building – which will also house a shop, café and reception area – will chart the changing face of Abbotsford estate, which had only a cottage and a farm steading when Scott arrived there in 1812.

The house was opened to the public in 1833, just five months after the writer's death, and was cared for by his direct descendants until the death of his great-great-great granddaughter in 2004.

However, it had been allowed to fall into decline and the number of visitors had slipped away due to its run-down state.

A group of trustees, headed by the Duke of Buccleuch, launched a campaign to save Abbotsford for the nation four years ago and won a pledge of £4.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund last year.

With Scottish Borders Council committing a £1.5m grant just before Christmas, the trustees announced yesterday that they were in a position to press ahead with the project later this year, subject to planning approval.

Historic Scotland has also been asked to support the project.

Community groups in the area are being given the chance to comment on the new building and the full-scale restoration and repair programme for the house over the next few weeks.

The entire project is expected to take about three years.

It will include the creation of six rooms of self-catering accommodation in the mansion, as well as new conservation and interpretation facilities and an education suite for school groups.

The visitor centre was designed by the same architects behind the restoration of Edinburgh's Festival Theatre and Usher Hall.

Trustee Tony Taylor said: "The site of the new building is a fair bit away from the house, in an area of woodland in the estate, and it has been very carefully designed to fit in with the landscape.

"It should make a huge difference to our understanding of Scott and his work.

"We don't yet know whether work will start first on the new building or the restoration but we're hoping to plan the work to ensure that Abbotsford remains open as normal every year from March to October."

David Parker, leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: "Our vision is for Abbotsford to be a world-class heritage centre and tourism attraction for the Borders.

"Abbotsford has been an underused asset for the area for a long time now, and this project should make a huge difference to our understanding of the life and work of Sir Walter Scott."