Apartments plan for felled church site

Cubby Construction Limited has revealed revised plans to build 20 apartments on the site of the former St Aidans Church and hall at Gala Park.

It says the scheme contains a mix of apartment types suitable for the current affordable rental market in Galashiels.

The Carlisle-based firm had submitted a planning application in April 2019 for 24 apartments at the site which was later withdrawn.

A design statement by Camerons Strachan Yuill Architects, explains: “Feedback appeared to be generally supportive. However, the viability of the scheme required a redesign to accommodate the applicant’s preferred construction method.”

The new plans comprise two apartment blocks, with 15 units in the building onto Gala Park, and a block of five units to St Andrew Street and Livingston Place.

The design statement says: “The proposal is for a strong new building for both Galashiels, and Gala Park. A building that contributes to the townscape of Galashiels in the same way the former church did, a landmark and contextual building that contributes to the community; in this case through affordable housing.

“The overall approach is to replicate the overall scale of the main body of the previous church building, albeit a contemporary interpretation.

“The development is a new landmark building for Galashiels that references the past, while looking to the future.

“The new building takes an honest, sympathetic contextual approach to material and form which makes reference to the significances of the site in terms of Galashiels’ historical built fabric.”

The buildings are designed to fit in with their surroundings, with the five-unit block designed to be the same height as its neighbouring building in St Andrew Street.

“The elevations proposed are to be finished with stone, slate, and metal cladding; all of which intended to reference the demolished church,” the report says.

“The proposal creates a strong new building for Galashiels that references the previous church in a modern way, and re-uses salvage materials as a mark of respect for the history of the site.”

Permission to demolish the 19th century church was given in 2018 after conversion plans failed, with councillors agreeing that removing it was the only economically viable option left.