Plans unveiled for new Mountain Bike Innovation Centre
Exciting plans for a new Mountain Bike Innovation Centre has been unveiled, including details on the range of facilities the proposed new building will offer.
A planning application was uploaded for the new Centre at Caerlee Mill in Innerleithen, which if approved will allow Scottish, UK and international companies to develop innovative mountain biking and cycling products and services.
The proposed Mountain Bike Innovation Centre will be funded by a £19million investment from the UK Government as part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, including £4m to be allocated towards the Tweed Valley Adventure Bike Park and Trail Lab.
Benefits of new Centre
- The proposed Innovation Centre is predicted to contribute £138m in Gross Value Added and create over 400 jobs in the Scottish Borders over ten years.
- The Centre will offer a place for businesses - both local and international – to showcase their innovative products in the heart of the UK’s leading mountain bike destination.
- The project will also host academics and research by Edinburgh Napier University across the cycling sector.
- If approved, the Centre will include bike engineering workshop space, brand experience units, events space, offices, meeting rooms and teaching space.
A community drop-in session took place last month in Innerleithen to give people a chance to look at the designs ahead of the application being submitted.
The planning application was submitted after approval to demolish the main building on the Caerlee Mill site was achieved in April 2025, with the proposed new Centre to take its place.
Who is involved?
We are delivering the Centre, with support from Scottish Borders Council and Edinburgh Napier University.
Hub South East Scotland have been appointed as delivery partner and, if the application is approved, Morrison Construction will undertake all building works.
Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal
The £350m investment in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, from the UK and Scottish Governments, is made up of £150million for Scotland (£85million from the Scottish Government and £65 million from the UK Government) and up to £200million for England from the UK Government.
This will be supported by over £100million of funding from local partners.
Regular updates and FAQs on the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre project are available.
Further progress is also being made, with Edinburgh Napier University recently advertising for a Mountain Bike Innovation Centre consultant role, in order to develop and promote the Centre’s and University’s expertise in knowledge exchange activities within the cycling sector.
Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of SOSE, said:
“This is another important step forward for the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre project.
“If planning permission is received, the new facility will allow high value jobs to come to the South of Scotland, maximising the value of mountain biking to the area by getting more products and services designed and made here.
“The Mountain Bike Innovation Centre is also a key project for the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership Strategy, which aims to ensure the region becomes one of the world’s leading cycling destinations.”
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said:
"I welcome this major step forward towards the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre in Innerleithen opening for business, bringing jobs and investment to the region and attracting riders from across the country and beyond to a world-class facility.
"The UK Government is supporting the project with £19million investment as part of our £65million contribution to Scottish projects in the Borderlands Growth Deal.
“In all, the UK Government is investing £1.4billion in dozens of important local growth projects and programmes across Scotland over the next 10 years.
“Working with partners we will deliver a decade of national renewal in our Plan for Change."
Professor Nazira Karodia, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University, said:
“The new Mountain Bike Innovation Centre will offer a host of opportunities to make a positive difference to the Scottish cycling sector.
“We are pleased to see this latest step in its journey.
“Edinburgh Napier University has a strong track record of cycling research, innovation and collaboration, and this facility will significantly enhance our capability in these areas.
“We will continue to work closely with partners to help deliver a leading centre.”