Saturday October 24th 2026
Jedburgh Exchange Corner
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
An eyesore ‘gap site’ in Jedburgh town centre is finally about to be filled.
Plans have been approved for an apartment complex and retail unit at 2 High Street, on the corner of High Street and Exchange Street, which was fully dismantled by May 2023.
The derelict 156-year-old property had been wrapped in scaffolding for years due to safety issues and legal wrangles before Scottish Borders Council intervened.
The three-storey and attic C Listed baronial corner tenement was designed by Clarke and Bell of Glasgow and built in 1866.
Now an application has been rubber-stamped SBC to fill the gap site with a modern mixed-use retail and residential block.
Jedburgh Community Council supported the application, which members noted was similar to a bid five years ago.
A spokesperson said: “In general, the public comments welcome progress to resolve the matter of the vacant site and whilst some view were negative in respect of the visual impact of the new building and how it blends in with the historic appearance of the square overall, we would consider the project and therefore the design solution is generally supported.”
In his report approving the application, Euan Calvert, SBC assistant planning officer, says: “The proposals are not over-development or cramming in so much as the proposals respects the scale, form, design, materials and density of surroundings.”
A report with the application stated: “The design concept seeks to promote a contemporary apartment block and retail unit of appropriate scale, design and construction.
“The design aims to add to the richness of the centre of Jedburgh, conforming to the traditional fabric in this area; and continuing the street frontage, whilst providing outstanding housing units responding to the demands of modern living in terms of room layout, high quality materials and sustainable design.
“A key aim of the proposal is to provide a building which enhances the immediate surroundings in Market Square and the High Street and which also provides a strong visual reference point to the long views from the surrounding streets.
“We believe this design will fulfil SBC’s brief ‘to deliver an aspirational and quality scheme that will complement, in contemporary terms, the historic town centre’.”
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