Plans for Scotland's first Center Parcs wins council backing

Scotland's first Center Parcs holiday village has taken a major step forward, after winning the unanimous approval of local councillors.

Planning permission has been granted for work to begin on the £450m development near Hawick in the Scottish Borders in 2026.

As well as supporting around 800 jobs during the two-year construction phase, the park will create 1,200 permanent positions.

After the meeting, it was confirmed that the park would be called Center Parcs Scottish Borders and was expected to open in summer 2029.

The scale of the plans had led to about 40 objections, mainly regarding visual and landscape impact, loss of farmland, traffic concerns and noise.

But members of Scottish Borders Council's planning committee were satisfied with the mitigating measures provided by Center Parcs.

Hawick councillor Stuart Marshall said: "This is a momentous day for Hawick and surrounding area.

"There has been growing excitement ever since Center Parcs first announced they were coming and today we can finally celebrate."

Selkirkshire councillor Leagh Douglas raised concerns about increased traffic on changeover days and called for "national consideration" of an A7 bypass.

"If we get this right, we can welcome Center Parcs as a partner that helps the whole region thrive, as opposed to one that thrives at the expense of communities around it," she said.

One of the objectors, Merlin Lewis, who lives next to the site, said: "The decision was expected but still devastating.

"For all of the concerns that have raised, it's disappointing that planning officials say everything is fine.

"This is life-changing for people who live here, and not in a good way."

The park will feature 700 holiday lodges as well as a purpose-built activity loch, an indoor swimming complex, restaurants and cafes, retail outlets, a health spa and a heritage centre.

Forests and flowering meadows will also be created on the 988-acre (400 ha) site around two miles north of Hawick.

It will be the seventh Center Parcs village in the UK and Ireland, and the first since the opening of Longford Forest in Ireland in 2019.

Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said they were thrilled to have secured planning permission and confirmed the resort would be called Center Parcs Scottish Borders.

"Put simply, we want the village to be an anchor destination that draws visitors to this wonderful region – and we believe this name will help do exactly that," he said.

"The opportunities this development will create for the area are truly enabling and transformative."

He praised local communities and businesses for engaging with the company, and helping them develop "a robust, well-considered planning application".

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) have calculated that Center Parcs - by attracting around 350,000 visitors each year and supporting 1,200 jobs - will boost the local economy by £27m each year.

The holiday village is also expected to spark a surge in house-building around the southern Borders.

Prof Russell Griggs, chair of SOSE, said: "As soon as Center Parcs announced their plans to come here, we had building companies calling us about any vacant sites.

"Here is someone coming here that's going to spend £450m and create 1,200 jobs - this will transform the Hawick area."

He said they welcomed the investment in the economy "but most importantly we want to ensure that this development is embedded sensitively within our visitor economy, encouraging people to spend more, explore further and stay longer.

"It's all about trying to spread the economic benefits to as many existing businesses and communities across the south of Scotland as possible."

The village will be built to the east of the A7, between Hawick and Selkirk, on land owned by the Buccleuch Group.

Its executive chairman Benny Higgins said: "Outstanding social, economic and environmental benefits have been delivered at other Center Parcs locations, and I have no doubt the Scottish Borders will enjoy a similar positive impact."