Prime Highlights:
- McDonald’s plans a £4 million investmentin Hawick with a new drive-thru and coffee shop.
- The development is expected to create over 100 full- and part-time jobs, boosting the local economy.
Key Facts:
- The restaurant will be located on Commercial Road, near Sainsbury’s and Aldi, and include an electric vehicle charging hub.
- The project marks a strategic expansionof McDonald’s presence in the Scottish Borders, following high demand at their Galashiels outlet.
Background:
Global fast-food chain McDonald’s plans to invest £4 million in a new drive-thru restaurant in Hawick. The project is expected to create over 100 full- and part-time jobs and give a boost to the local economy.
The restaurant will be on Commercial Road, close to Sainsbury’s and Aldi, and will include a drive-thru, coffee shop, and electric vehicle charging hub. The two-acre site will feature 38 parking spaces and has been designed to allow for future development.
McDonald’s said the decision to expand into Hawick follows sustained demand at its only existing Scottish Borders outlet in Galashiels, which has been operating above capacity. The company had previously secured planning permission for the Commercial Road site in 2020, although that project did not proceed at the time.
If approved, the new restaurant would contribute an estimated £50,000 to £60,000 annually in business rates and support additional employment through McDonald’s wider Scottish supply chain. A formal planning application is expected to be submitted to the Scottish Borders Council in the coming weeks.
Local leaders have welcomed the announcement. Hawick & Hermitage councillor Watson McAteer described the proposal as “fantastic news” for the town, particularly following the recent approval of a £450 million Center Parcs development nearby. He said the investment would be especially beneficial for young people and could attract further business interest to the area.
Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for Economic Growth and Developing the Borders, said the project aligns with ongoing regeneration efforts in Hawick, particularly after the completion of the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said the company is committed to working closely with local residents and stakeholders as the plans progress, adding that the new restaurant would deliver long-term benefits for both the community and the local economy.
If consent is granted, construction is expected to generate additional short-term jobs, further strengthening Hawick’s economic outlook.
