Chapelcross update given

A PROGRESS update on the Borderlands Chapelcross Project was given to councillors this week. They heard that the programme is focussed on developing the former nuclear power plant into a high quality, green energy-focussed regional employment centre, acting as a transformational project within the region. Conditional funding from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal together with funding of £5.5m, committed by Dumfries and Galloway Council, will be used to unlock the site for development through servicing and road improvements to access the area. A preferred development partner has now been selected from the private sector to develop the northern area of the Chapelcross site. A contract negotiation period is currently underway and expected to conclude later this year. Officials said that all partners have signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement to protect commercially sensitive information. Once everything is official, the new partner will work ‘to define the optimal site interventions and resultant scope of works for the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal funding’. This will allow progression to the next stage of the outline business case development.