en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Scottish Borders Council officially approved a planning application from M & J Ballantyne Ltd on June 29, 2026, to develop 49 new homes on the edge of Selkirk. Located on a plot east of Linglie Road, near the Philipburn House Hotel, the project will include a mix of townhouses and apartments, along with parking spaces, green areas, and a community garden.

The development aims to alleviate the housing shortage pressure facing the Borders region. The planning application received six objections, with main concerns including potential impacts on nearby historical sites such as the Philiphaugh Battlefield and the loss of open fields valued by local residents. However, the Council's Planning and Building Standards Committee ultimately approved the application. Viv Thomson, the Scottish National Party councillor for Tweeddale West, stated that while understanding local concerns, she believes the development represents a good solution for the site.

M & J Ballantyne Ltd is a residential developer headquartered in the Scottish Borders, specializing in the development and construction of small to medium-sized housing projects. Selkirk is one of the main towns in the Scottish Borders, located in the River Tweed basin. This approved residential project is part of a series of measures to address the housing shortage in the Scottish Borders region.