Hot food takeaway bid for a rundown shopping arcade in Galashiels is on the agenda

Shop owners Sava Estates have submitted a planning bid to Scottish Borders Council to change the use of the former Gamestation outlet at unit 8 Douglas Bridge after finding a tenant to take it over.

The premises has stood empty for almost a decade and the majority of the shops around it are also unoccupied.

A statement from the applicant’s agent, Selkirk-based Stuart Davidson architects, says the application would “continue the sympathetic regeneration of an underused former retail precinct”.

It adds: “The unit is located in what was a purpose-built pedestrian retail parade which now links the central area of Channel Street and the bus/train interchange.

“The area which is relative to the main town centre has suffered from loss of trade and as such has lost the vast majority of retail units with only two full retail units and one optician left from an original nine within the parade.

“Unit 8 has remained unoccupied since its former occupant Gamestation went into administration in 2012.

“The unit has been marketed continually for the following nine years by varying letting agents by means of permanent ‘To Let’ boards on site as well as online specialist and general market letting sites with varying incentives to encourage prospective tenants. Unfortunately, in this time there has been no interest from retail tenants.

“Our clients now have an active hot food takeaway tenant ready to take long term tenancy and carry out a full refurbishment including external upgrading to the unit, providing both a high quality outlet as well as continual additional employment within the premises.

“The tenants are open to agreeing a limited hours of opening with a focus of providing a welcoming frontage to visitors and locals alike.”