The future’s bright for Poynder Apartments, the Old Kelso High School
We invited past and current generations of Kelso High school pupils along to visit the site of the old school to see first-hand the transformation that is taking place at this historic site – from the old school building to a state-of-the-art extra care facility of 36 extra care elderly apartments with communal facilities. The work is being undertaken by local contractor M&J Ballantyne.
Amanda Miller, our Director of Community Services said, ‘We are tremendously excited about this unique project. Poynder Apartments will offer a mix of one and two bedroom flats, along with the provision of onsite care and support services to people aged 60 years and above. There will be a range of communal facilities available for use by tenants and the wider community, including a community hub where meals will be prepared and served, a hairdresser’s, and a place for social activities. We know there is significant demand for this type of housing having opened Wilkie Gardens in Galashiels earlier this year, which offers a very similar service. Not only will it provide much needed homes, but this new development will also create 35 new jobs, bringing a boost to this area, which is part of Eildon’s strategy investing £137m in new homes in the Borders up to 2027.’
Left to right: Alistair Moffat, Charlie Robertson, Amanda Miller (Eildon) former pupils/ teachers Hilda Adams and Sinclair Watson.
S6 Pupils Dougal Coates, Dylan Mackenzie, Zara Currie, Emma Stewart visit their old school
Award winning writer and historian Alistair Moffat who attended Kelso High School back in the 1960s said: ‘It is wonderful to be back at my old school, to see this building which has such a rich heritage standing the test of time and being given a whole new lease of life as ‘Poynder Apartments’. I am sure many former pupils will be interested to see the changes that are taking place here, breathing new life into this magnificent building, while retaining lots of the old features and character.’
Charlie Robertson, KHS Rector from 1999-2011, Principal Teacher of History from 1979-1988, co-author of the book, Kelso High School Memories 1939-2017, and current Chair of the KHS Archive Group said ‘The old KHS building is a significant piece of architecture in the town and is full of memories for generations of KHS pupils. It is great to see it being brought back to life and put to such an imaginative and innovative use that meets a clear need in the town. I’m sure that it will prove as popular in its new role as it was as a school and that it will retain the special place that it has in the hearts of Kelso people.’
Aerial view of the work at the old Kelso High School
Poynder Apartments will be complete early 2023 with the first tenants expected to move into the development from May 2023. For more information and to apply to live there, please email kelsoextracare@eildon.org.uk.
More updates on this much-awaited development can be found on our social media posts and website over the coming months.
Contact: Mr Nile Istephan, Chief Executive, 01750 724021
Eildon Housing Association is a leading Scottish Housing and Care provider and is the main provider of new homes of any tenure in the Scottish Borders.
Eildon is a fast-growing organisation with a new 5 Year Strategy which commits to creating up to 800 new affordable homes, to transforming to be a green organisation and decarbonise our housing stock, to address a range of social care and housing needs shortfalls and continue to respond to the changing preferences and aspirations of our customers.
We are fully committed to a just transition to a net zero carbon economy, working in partnership with others, as we believe we can play a leadership role in these efforts, and in doing so help re-shape the South of Scotland economy and support genuinely inclusive growth for our region.
Eildon Housing – 50 years providing housing and care