The new development comprising of 18 flats was built by Kelso firm M J Ballantyne and designed by ASSIST Design at a cost of £2.3 million. A grant of £1.169m was received from the Scottish Government with Eildon Housing Association providing the balance of this investment.

The award winner will be announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh on May 25.

There is further good news to report on Eildon’s development programme which is moving apace, as part of the record-breaking investment in new affordable homes for the Borders, with approval being granted for another two developments to be built in Galashiels at Huddersfield Street, and Craigpark.

Both of these schemes will be built by Hart Builders for Eildon Housing Association under an innovative partnership arrangement which was supported by housing minister Kevin Stewart MSP during a visit to the Borders last November.

The Huddersfield Street site will comprise of 34 flats, at a total cost of £4.9m with a Scottish Government grant of £2.8m. It is due to start in the summer 2018 and has an estimated completion time of spring 2019.

The Craigpark site will comprise of one existing house and nine new houses at a total cost of £1.9m, with £878,000 Scottish Government grant. The estimated completion for this development will be winter 2018/19.