Glasgow based The Three Stills Company Ltd, which secured funding for the project back in November, plans to redevelop the former Turnbull & Scott (Engineers) premises at 16-20 Commercial Road.

To be known as The Borders Distillery, the project will include a reception, shop and café on the ground floor alongside two large industrial sheds which will house the distillery equipment, while the first floor will include exhibition and whisky-tasting areas.

Three Stills hopes to start work on the development later this year and plans to open for business in July 2017.

In its design statement, submitted to Scottish Borders Council earlier this month, the company says its whisky distillery proposal “is a rare opportunity to restore and breathe new life into one of Hawick’s former industrial buildings and that too often no appropriate use can be found for these buildings and gradually they fall into disrepair, resulting ultimately in demolition”.

It added: “As well as saving the historic fabric of Hawick, the proposal will provide welcome employment directly and indirectly to the area.

“The facility will also provide another destination to encourage more tourism.

“The benefits this proposal will bring to the area are clear to see and approval would be of great benefit to Hawick.”

If approved, the distillery will be the first of its kind in the Borders since 1837.