Hawick To Get Land To Help Businesses

Work to demolish the former Kepak abattoir site at Burnfoot, Hawick has begun and is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.

This will allow the site to be released for development for use by local businesses or to attract new businesses to set up in Hawick.

The site is owned by the Kepak Group and Scottish Enterprise agreed to provide a contribution to Kepak of £34,000 towards the overall costs of clearing the site.

The company will market the cleared site with the support of the Council and Scottish Enterprise.


Nigel Watson, Director of Business Infrastructure at Scottish Enterprise said: "There is a shortage of suitable land for industrial development within the Hawick area, so it made good sense for Scottish Enterprise to support the demolition and clean up of this site.

"The site will be capable of attracting local business expansion or investment from firms wanting to come to the area which will help to create economic growth and diversification."

Robbie Grogan from Kepak Group added: "It's disappointing to see the old abattoir being demolished, however the clean up represents a great opportunity to attract investment and develop employment from this dormant site.

"The site which will provide 1.7ha will be a much more attractive business proposition for any developer and we hope it won’t be too long before it is snapped up for the use of local businesses and to attract new investors."

(GK/JM)