Center Parcs plans for first Scottish site take ‘major step forward’

Details were announced at Center Parcs’ first community event held at Hawick Rugby Football Club this week.

A full planning application for the holiday village just north of Hawick is expected this summer. The PoAN is the first stage in the statutory process, with full details of an extensive statutory community consultation programme also announced.

A PoAN is not a planning application but a notice to the Council advising how Center Parcs intends to engage with the community about its proposal. This allows the community to put their views directly to the developer before a planning application is submitted.

Center Parcs has six villages across the UK and Ireland: Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk, Longleat Forest in Wiltshire, Whinfell Forest in Cumbria, Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire and Longford Forest in Ireland.

Its vision for the site between Selkirk and Hawick is to create a new woodland and lochs which will “significantly increase biodiversity”.

The wooded landscape will be home to a holiday village of up to 700 lodges/apartments, an Aqua Sana Forest Spa, a Subtropical Swimming Paradise indoor water park, indoor/outdoor leisure and sports facilities, and an array of retail and restaurant facilities, bars and coffee shops, as well as a Local Heritage Centre.

During construction, the project is expected to generate between 750 and 800 jobs, with a commitment to engaging regional contractors where possible.

Once operational, the village will create approximately 1,200 permanent, non-seasonal roles. The total investment to bring this new village to life is estimated at between £350 million and £400 million.

In addition to previously announced community information sessions, Center Parcs proposes to hold at least four further formal public consultation events.

Center Parcs has six villages across the UK and Ireland (Image: Center Parcs)

Colin McKinlay, Chief Executive Officer of Center Parcs, said: “This first step towards applying for planning permission to realise our vision is an extremely important moment for us, and we are fully committed to a thorough programme of community engagement and consultation before the full planning application is submitted.

“We know from experience the significant economic and social benefits a Center Parcs village brings to the local area, and we are excited at the prospect of bringing a Center Parcs village to the Scottish Borders, creating a fantastic destination for families.

“We have already received extremely valuable feedback from the community, and we want to ensure that as many local people as possible see what we propose and are able to ask questions and provide feedback.”

The statutory public consultation events, which all run from 2pm-7pm, will be held at:

– Currie Memorial Hall, Lilliesleaf: Wednesday February 26

– Denholm Village Hall: Wednesday March 26

– Selkirk RFC: Thursday April 24

– Hawick RFC: Tuesday May 20

In addition, Center Parcs will host a Community Open Day at Hawick RFC on Wednesday, May 21 from 11am to 7pm.