Center Parc plans for Scottish holiday village

Center Parcs’ have announced their intention to develop a holiday village in the Scottish Borders, approximately three miles north of Hawick and 55 miles south of Edinburgh.

The proposed development will be similar to Center Parcs’ other six holiday villages in England and Ireland. A planning application will be submitted for approximately 700 lodges, which will offer a range of indoor and outdoor activities, shops, bars, restaurants, an Aqua Sana Forest Spa and an indoor water park. Proposals are at an early stage and Center Parcs intends to submit a planning application in 2025.

Center Parcs plans to undertake an extensive programme of tree planting, cultivating new woodland and delivering a biodiversity net gain on the site. Currently, the site is predominantly open grassland with some woodland areas.

The company outlined its proposals in Hawick yesterday to a gathering of community leaders and business and political representatives.

Colin McKinlay, Chief Executive Officer of Center Parcs, said: 

“This is a tremendously exciting project and offers the opportunity to transform leisure and tourism in the Scottish Borders. Center Parcs is an exceptionally popular destination for families in the UK and Ireland and there is robust demand to support a seventh village.

“Throughout our history, we have demonstrated that a Center Parcs village provides significant economic benefits locally, regionally and nationally.

“Many Scottish families already visit Center Parcs villages in England, and this village will offer the chance for people to enjoy their holidays closer to home, which in turn will benefit the local economy.

During the construction phase of the project, the company estimate 750-800 mainly regional jobs will be created with local contractors used where possible.

The village is expected to create around 1,200 permanent non-seasonal jobs with an estimated investment to build the village of between £350m-£400m.

Scottish Borders Council leader Euan Jardine described it as an "absolutely phenomenal investment" in the region. He said:

"To have a company with such a nationwide and worldwide name as Center Parcs invest in the Borders - the first in Scotland as well - I think it is fantastic news and great for the area" 

Prof Russel Griggs, who chairs South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), said the plans would be the biggest investment in the area since the Borders Railway, adding:

"I am delighted Center Parcs have chosen our area to make this commitment and recognised what the south of Scotland has to offer".

He said SOSE was not providing financial support but would aim to work with the company to ensure local businesses and the community benefited.

The site lies to the east of the A7 trunk road between Hawick and Selkirk on land owned by the Buccleuch Group, which has signed an option agreement with Center Parcs. The agreement covers approximately 1,000 acres of land, comprising open grassland and some woodland. It is expected that development on the site will extend to 400 acres.

Benny Higgins, Executive Chairman of the Buccleuch Group, said: 

“This project promises to have an outstandingly positive impact on tourism and leisure in the Scottish Borders and we are delighted to have signed an option agreement that will enable Center Parcs to take the next steps towards fulfilling its ambitions.”

Center Parcs has been operating in the UK since 1987 but it started with a holiday village in the Netherlands in the late 1960s.

A website outlining the plans will go live shortly and will provide updates on the project - www.centerparcsscotland.co.uk

Pic credit: Yelizaveta via Canva