Caerlee Mill Bike Campus Nears Completion, Set to Boost Cycling Innovation
World-class facility in Innerleithen, supported by the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, will house Bike Innovation Scotland and drive economic growth.
By Kirsty Lennox
••4 min read
AI
Generic image of a modern building under construction with Scottish hills in the background.
The Caerlee Mill Bike Campus, a state-of-the-art facility in Innerleithen, is nearing completion and is set to become a central hub for shaping the future of cycling.
Significant progress is being made on the Caerlee Mill Bike Campus, a world-class facility designed to bring together businesses, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to drive innovation in the cycling sector. The construction of the Innerleithen-based campus is anticipated to conclude ahead of the Tour de France's visit to the Scottish Borders next summer. It will serve as the physical home for the ambitious new partnership, Bike Innovation Scotland.
The Caerlee Mill Bike Campus and Trail Lab is being supported by the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, with an investment of £15.5 million from the UK Government. Work on the main campus building's structure is almost complete, with the focus now shifting to internal spaces. The next phase involves finishing the brickwork and roofing, alongside further internal finishing.
The project is being delivered in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University and Scottish Borders Council. Hub South East Scotland is the delivery partner, with Morrison Construction acting as the main contractor. Community engagement has included visits from St Ronan's Primary School pupils and donations of building materials to the town's community garden. Artwork competitions are also underway for an external heritage installation and a large internal mural celebrating the local area.
The campus will offer flexible business units, short-term rentable collaboration spaces, specialist testing facilities, and innovation support services, aiming to create a vibrant hub for cycling businesses. Economically, the project is projected to generate £86 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) and support over 225 jobs in the South of Scotland over the next decade.
Bike Innovation Scotland, launched in July 2026 by Edinburgh Napier University and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), is the national innovation and delivery brand connecting industry, academia, and public sector partners. A new website provides details for businesses interested in joining the cycling innovation ecosystem, including information on the IMBA Europe Summit to be hosted at the campus in 2027. Businesses are encouraged to register their interest with SOSE.
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"It is very exciting to see how far the Caerlee Mill Bike Campus project has progressed. The completion of its world class facilities, particularly around the human performance and innovation lab space, will really enhance the research and innovation work we are able to carry out. We are looking forward to watching the Campus develop even further over the coming months, ahead of what promises to be a significant year for Scottish cycling."
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"The Caerlee Mill Bike Campus will provide opportunities on a local, national and global level, supporting high-value jobs, attracting new investment and SOSE's aim of delivering lasting economic growth. It will also reinforce the South of Scotland’s reputation as a leading destination for cycling and mountain biking. There has been excellent progress made on the Caerlee Mill Bike Campus since construction began eight months ago, and we can now see the building really taking shape ahead of its opening next year."
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"It is fantastic to see the progress being made on site and hear that the building works will be complete by the time we welcome the Tour de France next July. The South of Scotland is the home of the bike and a UCI Bike Region, and the investment in this facility through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and from Scottish Borders Council, SOSE and Edinburgh Napier University capitalises on that and will put us at the heart of future cycling innovations. This project and the continued work of the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership is absolutely focussed on securing tangible benefits for the area, our economy, residents and visitors. It is built upon our existing reputation for cycling and making the most of the region hosting events such as the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, the Tour of Britain and of course the greatest of them all, the Tour de France."
