The affirmation of the closure of Dorothy Perkins and Burton shops, aspect by aspect at 65-69 Excessive Avenue, was a hammer blow to town final month.

However a silver lining appeared on the Scottish Borders Council’s planning portal after an software was submitted to maintain the 2 models as a retail enterprise.

As well as, the appliance consists of changing the above premises into 9 flats.

The provide comes from constructing proprietor Stephen Jacobs of Stoneacre Properties in Leeds.

The applying seeks approval for brand new storefronts and entrances and authorization for 3 one-bedroom flats on the primary ground and 6 one- and two-bedroom flats on the second and third flooring.

The roof would even be transformed from slope to flat, a brand new stairlift can be put in and partial demolition work can be carried out.

When the 2 shops have been confirmed to be closed, metropolis marshal Watson McAteer had advised {that a} lined market-style buying space may very well be the positioning’s future.

Mr McAteer nonetheless hasn’t dominated this out as an choice, however mentioned he is able to hearken to what the most recent plans will imply for town’s retail providing.

He mentioned: “I’ve heard that the house owners have put collectively a plan, though I do not suppose there are any actual retailers recognized to maneuver into the retailers. It appears to be like just like the house owners have launched the app and are actually going to market the property.

“All of it occurred in a short time and we have been nonetheless hoping to pursue the potential for it changing into an indoor playroom however there may be nothing to say that would not occur as I feel it’s nonetheless on the market. If the constructing continues to be on the market there There are alternatives there. We are going to attempt to discover out what their intentions are, however for now all I can say is that the house owners of the constructing have utilized for a planning permission which permits the constructing for use for each outlets and flats. The residence aspect may very well be the important thing as a result of clearly the planning rules have been relaxed in Hawick to permit range on the principle avenue so I think about approving the flats can be choice.