Center Parcs announces plans for first holiday village in Scotland

Center Parcs is set to bring its family holiday experience to Scotland with plans for a new village in the Borders. The proposed site, just three miles north of Hawick and within easy reach of Edinburgh, is expected to create approximately 1,200 permanent jobs.

Although still in the early planning stages, with a submission due in 2025, the company aims to build around 700 lodges and provide a plethora of activities, including an indoor water park.

Colin McKinlay, chief executive of Center Parcs, said: “This is a tremendously exciting project and offers the opportunity to transform leisure and tourism in the Scottish Borders.

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“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.”

This development promises to follow the successful model of the existing six Center Parcs holiday villages across England and Ireland.

Center Parcs reveals ambitious plans to create an extensive new woodland at their upcoming site, involving an investment between £350 million to £400 million.

Mr McKinlay said: “Sustainability is core to our values. In our three decades of operating in the UK and Ireland, we have transformed areas of commercial woodland into a rich tapestry of flora and fauna, considerably enhancing the biodiversity of each village.

“This site gives us the opportunity to take a bold, new approach and create a woodland ourselves, delivering significant biodiversity net gain and planting thousands of new trees.

“We are at an early stage with these proposals and have a lengthy and thorough planning process ahead.

“We have already conducted a significant number of surveys to assess the site and we intend to continue with additional site surveys and design development, alongside a programme of pre-planning application consultation and community engagement.”

The project is expected to generate 750-800 regional jobs during construction, utilizing local contractors wherever possible, on approximately 1,000 acres of Buccleuch Group land under an option agreement with Center Parcs—intending to develop around 400 acres of it.

Benny Higgins, executive chairman ofthe 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.”