A FORMER fire-damaged factory in the Borders faces being flattened to make way for a 25-space car park.

A planning application has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council by Manchester-based Moore & Ellinson for conservation area consent to demolish the existing building at 14-16 Cross Wynd, Hawick, which is a vacant factory.

The application calls for for its replacement with a permanent surface level car park with an electric vehicle (EV) charging facility. There will also be a facility for charging smaller vehicles, such as electric bikes.

In a report with the submission, the applicant says the existing building on the site has been vacant since the beginning of 2020, and before that it was leased to a charity at zero rent.

The report adds: “It suffered fire damage from an arson event in December 2021 and again more recently meaning that the prospects of finding an industrial or business use are now even less likely than they have been in the last 20 years.

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“The applications propose the demolition of the existing factory building on the site, which will be undertaken by a specialist contractor, in accordance with a construction management plan to be agreed with the council in the event that consent is granted.

“Demolition will be undertaken with special regard to the safety of adjoining properties and the amenity of local residents

“The site will be levelled with a retaining wall constructed on the south-western boundary, to a height of around 1.2m above surface level to protect future users. Level access will be provided from Cross Wynd to an area capable of accommodating 25 parking spaces, including three dedicated disabled spaces. Eight of these spaces will be made available for the charging of electric vehicles administered by a national charging operator.

“The car park will be available 24 hours a day, and the EV charging spaces are expected to be used by shoppers and town centre visitors during the daytime. They will be also remain available for local residents during night-time hours.”