Center Parcs plans for first holiday village in Scotland has potential to 'transform tourism, create year-round employment and bring a significant boost to the local economy'
Last updated 9th Jul 2025
Center Parcs plans for a new 700-lodge holiday village in the Scottish Borders has the potential to "transform local tourism, create year-round employment and bring a significant boost to the regional economy".
That's according to the company's CEO Colin McKinlay, who's due to the visit the site - just off the A7 north of Hawick - later today (Wednesday).
It comes as a formal planning application for the £400 million development is submitted to Scottish Borders Council, with a decision expected before the end of the year.
An economic impact assessment included with the documents reveals that - if approved - the forest park is expected to attract more than 350,000 visitors, and inject an additional eight million pounds into the local economy, every year.
Hawick Provost Clair Ramage is welcoming the investment. She told Greatest Hits Radio: "This is a positive stop forward, and one that I know the public are looking forward to. They see it as a positive project for Hawick, and the surrounding area."
And she added: "We look forward to seeing this completed."
As well as the visitor accommodation, the development boasts a swimming pool, indoor leisure facilities, spa, retail shops, bars, coffee shops and restaurant facilities.
The plans also include demolition of Huntlaw Farm buildings, the creation of more than 2,000 car parking spaces, and planting of hundreds of trees.
Accessed from a turning lane off the main trunk road, the development is expected to generate between 750 and 800 jobs during the construction phase.
And, once operational, the village will create approximately 1,200 permanent, non-seasonal roles – offering a wide range of career opportunities for local residents, including management positions; with the first visitors expected to arrive in 2029.
Mr McKinlay 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."
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