CENTER Parcs has submitted a planning application to the Scottish Borders Council for the build of its first holiday resort in Scotland.
The £350-400 million development is earmarked for a site approximately three miles from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, with it expected to extend across 400 acres and feature 700 accommodation units.
Set to be a similar concept to its existing six holiday resorts in England and Ireland, the site would offer a range of indoor and outdoor activities, shops, bars, restaurants, an Aqua Sana Forest Spa, and Center Parcs’ indoor water park, the Subtropical Swimming Paradise.
Other key features of the proposal include two newly created lochs designed for water sports and recreation, a combined Nature and Heritage Centre with an adjacent restaurant and coffee shop, wildflower meadows, nature trails, and wetlands to promote biodiversity as well as a wide range of outdoor activities, integrated sympathetically into the landscape.
In addition, Center Parcs plans to plant a forest at the proposed site, in a new approach for the business. Typically, Center Parcs builds its villages in commercial woodlands, improving biodiversity through careful forest management. The proposed site is predominantly open grassland and Center Parcs said it would plant thousands of native species to create a diverse and thriving woodland.
Center Parks said that it expects 750-800 ‘mainly regional’ jobs will be created during the construction phase, with it adding that local contractors will be used ‘where possible’. Once operational, the resort will be expected to create around 1,200 permanent non-seasonal jobs.
Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said, “We’re thrilled to submit our planning application for our proposed Center Parcs village in Scotland. Since unveiling our initial plans in November, it’s been a busy and rewarding eight months of consultation. We’ve listened carefully to feedback from local communities and stakeholders and have worked hard to shape a proposal that is both ambitious and sensitive to its surroundings.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to engage with us. Their insights have helped us develop a design that blends seamlessly with the natural landscape while delivering high-quality accommodation and leisure experiences for families.
“This is an exciting opportunity – not just for Center Parcs but for the Scottish Borders. As we witnessed when we opened our newest location in Longford in Ireland in 2019, a new village has the potential to transform local tourism, create year-round employment and bring a significant boost to the regional economy.
“Center Parcs continues to be a hugely popular destination for families across the UK and Ireland. With many families in Scotland already travelling to our existing villages in England, a Scottish location would allow them to enjoy a premium holiday experience closer to home – while supporting jobs, businesses and tourism in the region.”
