WATCH: Ground-breaking ceremony marks start of work on new tennis centre in Galashiels
Last updated 4th Sep 2026
A ground-breaking ceremony has taken place in Galashiels to officially mark the start of work on the town’s new tennis centre.
The five covered courts at the recently opened school campus next to Scott Park are due to be completed next summer.
The ÂŁ3.8 million facility will provide three artificial clay courts beneath a canopy, alongside two covered padel courts.
The project has received just over ÂŁ1.5 million from the Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis (TSIT) Fund.
Tennis Scotland chief executive Blane Dodds is welcoming the investment.
“We won't be cancelling programmes for children because of inclement weather," he told Greatest Hits Radio. "It provides all year-round play.
“That’s going to increase the capacity, it’s going to increase opportunities.
“So we're really looking forward to contributing not only to the local community but to tennis overall in Scotland.”
The new facility is being delivered as part of the wider ÂŁ64 million Galashiels Academy community campus, which opened to pupils in January this year.
The campus already features a 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, gym facilities and indoor sports courts, while new multi-purpose 2G and 3G pitches are also planned.
The latest project marks a significant step forward for tennis in the Scottish Borders, which already has a thriving community of players, with 12 registered clubs and more than 1,500 playing members.
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The tennis centre will be operated by Live Borders on behalf of Scottish Borders Council.
The charity's CEO Catriona McAllister confirmed the courts would be covered rather than fully enclosed — a change from earlier hopes for an indoor facility.
“You have to be realistic about these things," she said. "And the construction costs of a fully enclosed one would have stopped the project.
“I think you've got to be pragmatic and say, you know, this will get us going really, really well.
“It doesn't stop you coming back and covering it fully in the future, but I think it's just fantastic to have the facility.”
The covered courts will include smart-access controls and LED floodlights to aid year-round access, with an estimated opening of May 2027.
The initiative brings together the LTA, LTA Tennis Foundation, sportscotland and Tennis Scotland, with the aim of improving indoor tennis provision and creating more opportunities to play all year round.
Scottish Borders Council leader Councillor Euan Jardine said the project was a “long sought after facility” for the local tennis community.
He said: “It is tremendous that just a month on from the funding being approved we’re able to start work to deliver this fantastic facility alongside the development of the outdoor sport facilities at Galashiels Academy.
“This is a long sought after facility within the local tennis community and it will provide so many opportunities for people of all ages to take up a racket and get active all-year-round.
"It will also provide the facilities to support our rising stars to train and play locally in perfect conditions.”
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