The new resort will be situated near Hawick in the Scottish Borders, and would see a £350-400 million investment, as well as the creation of around 750-800 jobs during its construction

Center Parcs has unveiled plans for a new village, the first in Scotland.

Situated near Hawick in the picturesque Scottish Borders, the sprawling £350-400 million resort promises to be a significant investment, creating up to 750-800 construction roles during its development phase. Upon completion, Center Parcs anticipates the village will support approximately 1,200 permanent, non-seasonal positions.

Although proposals are still in their infancy, the plans were unveiled at a public consultation held at Denholm Village Hall on March 26. Attendees were afforded the opportunity to peruse the provisional “hand-drawn masterplan,” detailing the potential layout of leisure facilities, retail spaces, and a proposed 700 lodges and apartments.

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Valuable feedback was gathered, which will inform the evolution of the plans ahead of further consultations scheduled for Selkirk in April and Hawick in May. A finalised version will be submitted as part of the planning application this summer. Chief Executive of Center Parcs, Colin McKinlay, remarked: “Significant technical and design work is taking place behind the scenes as we work towards making our ambition of bringing Center Parcs to the Scottish Borders a reality.

“As our project team continues to develop plans and engage with the community, we are delighted to reveal the first iteration of our masterplan. These consultation events are essential in allowing us to gather feedback and refine our proposals. Our goal is to create a destination that integrates seamlessly with the natural environment while providing high-quality accommodation and leisure experiences for families.”

The chosen spot is just three miles north of Hawick and 55 miles from Edinburgh. Upon announcing the park last year, Mr McKinlay also highlighted the economic upsides: “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 Scottish venture will mirror the layout and offerings of the other six Center Parcs across England and Ireland.

Mr McKinlay also emphasised the company’s commitment to the environment, saying: “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.”

The proposed site, owned by the Buccleuch Group, spans approximately 1,000 acres of open grassland and some woodland, with the development poised to cover around 400 acres.

Benny Higgins, the executive chairman of Buccleuch Group, has expressed enthusiasm about the new venture, saying: “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.”