Friday May 15th 2026
Cockburnspath Community Shop
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The lifespan of a community shop that has become a vital hub in a Borders village has been extended.
Cockburnspath Community Shop opened its doors in June 2021 and villagers have since supported the venture enthusiastically.
It is located at the heart of village, beside the village hall, and an application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council to extend the Callander Place outlet’s lifespan for a further five years,
Planning permission was last extended in 2023 for a further three years.
Now SBC has approved the continuation of the business for a further five years after it was asserted that its closure would be “devastating to the village”.
In a statement in support of the application, Martin Given, of Cockburnspath Community Council, stated: “The community shop has become a very important asset in the village and is currently the only shop in the local area so is widely used not just for the residents of Cockburnspath but also the surrounding villages.
“It has become a hub for not only locals, but for those passing through. Be it those on holiday or the walkers from the Southern Upland way.
“An extension to the planning permission would be more than welcome as it would be devastating to the village and the community should it not be granted.”
A report with the application, from Cockburnspath Community Enterprise, also stated: “The past five years of operation indicate that we can be positive about the shop’s future sustainability including the cost of paid staff – currently a manager, an assistant and local teenagers, all on a part-time basis.
“Customers have become used to the new location of the shop in the village, and its proximity to the village hall, primary school, play area and football pitch works well.”
A Community Action Plan was published by the village’s community council shortly after the shop opened, having been delayed by the Covid pandemic.
Extensive consultation was carried out which, as well as indicating a strong wish to have a shop again in the village, has subsequently seen a marked increase in activities in and around the village.
The report adds: “It also sparked ideas about the future of the area around the shop and hall as a community hub and discussions took place to explore this further.
“A number of groups were involved in the process and an architect was appointed to produce plans for a combined shop and hall.
“Due to changes in village hall governance however this process was put on hold and has only recently been restarted.
“Until a plan has been properly developed retention of the shop in its current position would be beneficial and we would therefore like to apply for an extension to the current planning for a further period of five years.”
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