Thursday July 2nd 2026
Espresso Library Cafe, Hawick
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Retail revamps have been endorsed in Hawick as the town’s streetscape returns back to the future.
Shopfront changes in the town centre are guided by a focus on heritage, repair, and enhancing the town’s character.
The approach is heavily influenced by the Hawick Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), which ran until March 2025, and a subsequent 2026 Conservation Area Appraisal.
It’s an attempt to restore a heritage-feel to the town’s streetscape, something akin to how it appeared pre-1919, with an emphasis on subtle colours and not garish colours and illuminated signage.
Now planning applications have been approved by Scottish Borders Council to repaint five shopfronts with subdued colours associated with the town’s heritage.
The former First Light Trust, now Espresso Library cafe, at 1-3 High Street, is to be changed from a blue paint colour frontage to a heritage navy colour.
Borders Surplus store at 27 High Street will change from a black paint colour to a heritage green, while the Jim Hay estate agent office at 51 High Street switching from a light grey paint colour to a heritage dark grey.
The final two changes are for the North Point hardware store at 59 High Street, from a white paint colour to a heritage green colour, and the Mamaris barber shop at 6 Bourtree Place – from black to heritage green.
Euan Calvert, SBC assistant planning officer, in a report approving the applications, states: “The Heritage and Design Officer has been consulted on this application and is satisfied that the selected colour is suitably muted and complements the traditional materials and detailing of the building, contributing positively to the appearance of both the listed building and the wider Conservation Area.
“Considering the positive visual change to the shopfront, the proposal would preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the architectural and historic interest of the Listed Building.”
In recent years there has been a strong emphasis on restoring traditional shopfronts (pre-1919) using appropriate materials, particularly timber sash and case windows and traditional doors.
The Hawick CARS project provided grants ranging from 50%–75% for eligible repairs and restorations to conservation standards.
Recent heritage-style improvements have also been completed at locations like Bourtree Place and 3 Towerknowe.
Meanwhile, proposals that replace historic features with modern, unsuitable materials like uPVC are likely to face objection under planning guidelines, as are illuminated signage applications.
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