Work underway on world-leading Mountain Bike Innovation Centre
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill has visited Innerleithen to mark the start of enabling works to turn a former mill site into a world-leading Mountain Bike Innovation Centre.
We met Ms McNeill alongside project partners Edinburgh Napier University and Scottish Borders Council at Caerlee Mill, and visited local business Tweed Valley Bikes, to find out more about the Centre’s potential impact for the mountain bike industry and local economy.
What is the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre?
The 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.
Start of enabling works
The demolition and enabling works began this week and are being led by delivery partner Hub South East Scotland and main contractor Morrison Construction.
Alongside Morrison Construction, we held a local residents meeting last week to ensure the community was kept up to date with the upcoming works.
Construction of the new building is due to start in March 2026, subject to approval of a final business case, with the aim for the new Mountain Bike Innovation Centre opening its doors in 2027.
The 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 focus on research and development and 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.
The Centre will include bike engineering workshop space, brand experience units, events space, offices, meeting rooms and teaching space.
The £350m investment in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, from the UK and Scottish Governments, is made up of £150m for Scotland (£85m from the Scottish Government and £65m from the UK Government) and up to £200m for England from the UK Government. This will be supported by over £100m of funding from local partners.
Regular updates including a new community newsletter and FAQs on the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre project are available.
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said:
"It's great to see work is now underway on the Innerleithen Mountain Bike Innovation Centre.
“Opening for business in 2027, the project - backed by £19million UK Government funding - is bringing jobs and investment to the region and will attract riders from across the country and beyond to a world class facility.
"Part of our £65million contribution to Scottish projects in the Borderlands Growth Deal, this is the UK Government's Plan for Change in action - working with local partners to deliver a decade of national renewal across Scotland."
Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of SOSE, said:
“The Mountain Bike Innovation Centre is going to be a flagship for active tourism, Research & Development and innovation.
“We are pleased that work is now underway to bring these exciting plans for Innerleithen, the Tweed Valley and the Scottish Borders to reality.
“We will work with our partners to ensure local residents and the mountain bike sector are kept fully up to date on the plans at the Caerlee Mill site.
“We will also use this time to build interest and excitement ahead of the Centre’s opening in 2027.”
Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Economic Growth and Developing the Borders, said:
“It is great to see works commencing on site as we move towards delivering this exciting new facility in 2027.
“We were delighted to welcome Ms McNeill to Innerleithen to see the site and hear about the project and the benefits that it will deliver to the local area and wider Scottish Borders.”