Designed by Page\Park Architects, the two-storey development will be located close to the train station in the village of Tweedbank where the new Borders railway terminates.

Currently moving round the country on an exhibition tour, the Great Tapestry of Scotland is the longest embroidered tapestry in the world at 143 metres long but lacks a permanent gallery space capable of doing it justice.

Submitted by Page\Park back in August, the plans include a reception, shop, temporary gallery and café built on the ground floor to cater for the expected tourist hordes, with the tapestry itself located on the floor above.

Planning officers had recommended approval for the application after a petition to the local authority failed to get it to drop its financial commitment to the project.

The Scottish Government has pledged £2.5m towards the project and the council voted last year to allocate up to £3.5m.

The main roof structure over the Tapestry Gallery would echo the flower of the thistle through a filigree of roof members and the display panel structure.

Externally the first floor of the visitor centre will be clad in precast concrete panels with cast-in artwork developed in conjunction with Andrew Crummy, the artist responsible for creating the tapestry within.