Center Parcs first holiday village in Scotland clears final planning hurdle
Last updated 2nd Mar 2026
Work is finally set to get underway on Center Parcs first holiday village in Scotland.
The leisure operator was granted planning permission for the 700-lodge development, just off the A7 north of Hawick, at the end of last year.
But officials revealed they wouldn't commit to the £450 million investment without a byelaw restricting access over the main part of the site.
They stressed having a secure and enclosed site is needed for safety and operational reasons.
And, tonight (Monday), Scottish Borders Council has confirmed its request to restrict access at Huntlaw and Muirfield Farm, Hassendean, has been granted.
The byelaw will officially come into force in April.
A local authority spokesperson said: "This marks a key step in regulating land access for the proposed Center Parcs holiday village."
Diggers have been spotted on site in recent weeks ahead of work officially getting started, with the first visitors expected to arrive in the summer of 2029.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio in December, Center Parcs CEO Colin McKinlay said: "We are absolutely thrilled to get planning permission.
"Over the course of the next few months we'll start with the early contracting work for enabling works.
"Enabling works are simply the things we need to do in advance of the main build. So it's the junction off the A7, the access road etc; that could start as early as spring (this year)."
The new holiday village is expected to generate £75 million for the local economy every year - including £30 million in salaries and £9 million in tourism spend.
"All of these numbers are a fantastic demonstration of the kind of benefits Center Parcs can bring," Mr McKinlay added.
"I think this will be transformational for the Scottish Borders. We've seen that in other areas where we've brought a Center Parcs village.
"And to bring Center Parcs to this region and to call it 'Center Parcs Scottish Borders', I think, is absolutely the right thing to do; where we can really put the Borders on the map."
The new holiday resort is expected to create 800 jobs during the construction phase and a further 1,200 year-round jobs when it opens.
In addition to the holiday lodges, the development - which includes the planting of thousands of new trees - will also boast a water park, spa, village centre, heritage and nature centre, shops, restaurants, outdoor activities, lochs, and woodland trails.
A broad timeline of the work planned over the coming years is set to be unveiled at a drop-in event in Hawick Town Hall on Wednesday, March 18th, between 2pm and 7pm, and give the public a chance to ask any questions.
Mr McKinlay said: "I do want to manage expectations, so it’s important to note that this is not a recruitment event or a supplier event – we are more than happy to answer questions and provide information, but we’re not yet at a stage to have more formal discussions or provide detailed information on opportunities.
"As well as being able to speak to the team face-to-face, we’ll also have a broad timeline of activity over the coming years, information on supplier requirements (in terms of the standards we require our suppliers to adhere to) and some top-level information on the types of jobs we offer."
More than 30 objections had been lodged against the plans, which included concerns around the potential light pollution, noise and additional traffic which could be created.
But an environmental study assessed the overall impact of the development as being "not significant".
READ MORE: 12 nights of road closures begin on A7 south of Selkirk
Scottish Borders Council leader Euan Jardine said: “We warmly welcome the decision by Scottish Ministers to grant the new Byelaw, which recognises the careful and balanced approach taken by the Council in considering the needs of Center Parcs as it makes this major investment in the Scottish Borders, alongside the rights and traditions of public access in Scotland.
“We appreciate Ministers’ acknowledgement of the extensive work undertaken to address the concerns raised by access groups and local residents, and their agreement that these can be appropriately mitigated through the proposals put forward.
“This positive decision provides clarity and confidence for the project to move forward, bringing significant economic and employment opportunities to the Borders, while ensuring our communities and environment are respected.”
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