Tuesday June 2nd 2026
Ettrick Primary School
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A former Borders primary school is to be converted into a community hub and bunkhouse.
Ettrick Primary School was closed for good in 2019 due to falling pupil numbers.
When members of Scottish Borders Council’s Planning & Building Standards Committee met on Monday, June 1, they approved its change of use to form a community hub with bunkhouse, museum and multi-use space.
A total of nine representations were received from separate households in relation to conversion of the single-storey building.
Of these, five were objections, three were letters of support, and one raised general comments and queries regarding the proposal.
Concerns centred on the proposal exacerbating existing water supply and shortage issues.
There was also concern that campervans and tents would be permanently sited within the school grounds and that the bunkhouse accommodation would remain unsupervised.
Support comments referenced increased visitor numbers which would help support the local economy and local businesses
It was also thought the proposal would help meet a need for accommodation for walkers and cyclists.
Committee members agreed that the concerns over water supply could be addressed through conditions.
Councillor Marshall Douglas said: “Obviously the main issue is the water supply because the building, having been used as a school previously, was used for community use as such, so there is no real change in that and it is unlikely that there will be more people at the building than there were when it was used as a school.”
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