Center Parcs unveils £400m 'masterplan' for first Scottish holiday village

Center Parcs has unveiled its £400m plans for its first holiday village in Scotland.

The business has submitted plans to expand north of the border with a 700-lodge site near Hawick in the Scottish Borders.

Presented at a public consultation in Denholm Village Hall on Wednesday the masterplan offers a closer look at the potential layout of accommodation, retail, leisure facilities, heritage centre, and other key elements of the village.

The 'masterplan' has been released to the public. — The ‘masterplan’ has been released to the public. Centreparcs via Supplied

Other key features of the masterplan include an Aqua Sana Forest Spa and the signature indoor water park, the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a newly created loch, and a range of outdoor activities.

Center Parcs has also outlined plans to plant a number of trees at the 1,000-acre plot to create a new woodland area.

The estimated investment to build the village is £350m to £400m.

Center Parcs said that during the construction phase of the project, 750-800 mainly regional jobs will be created, and local contractors will be used where possible.

The site is on land owned by the Buccleuch Group, which has signed an option agreement with Center Parcs.

Colin McKinlay, chief executive of Center Parcs, said: “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.

Center Parcs CEO Colin McKinlay and Raj Singh-Dehal, Chief Corporate Officer Center Parcs

“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 site lies to the east of the A7 trunk road between Hawick and Selkirk – around a 90-minute drive from Edinburgh or two hours from Glasgow.

Benny Higgins, executive chairman of the Buccleuch Group, added: “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.”

A final planning application is to be submitted this summer and additional consultation events are scheduled for Selkirk in April and Hawick in May, providing further opportunities for community engagement.