The company, which supplies timber frames for housebuilders such as CALA and Miller Homes, has applied to Scottish Borders Council for permission to transform the former home furniture store into a new timber frame manufacturing facility.

Documents submitted to the local authority say the prospective new factory would have a 53-strong workforce and carry out “pre-fabrication of timber frame floor cassettes/wall frames”.

They also state: “The sole aim of making this application is to pursue the company’s desire to acquire additional space suitable for the proposed expansion of its current timber frame manufacturing facility in Selkirk.”

Oregon’s joint managing director Peter Wade said there was “no timescale” on the proposal, telling the Selkirk Weekend Advertiser: “We’re only in negotiations to purchase, which is subject to a planning change.

“It’s giving us the capacity for expansion in the future, as the construction business continues to grow.”