If you’ve ever visited a Center Parcs, you’ll know the unique excitement of rocking up somewhere where you can ride a segway, shoot a bow and arrow, meet a baby owl, eat at Bella Italia, and paint a mug all in the same location. Scots have, thus far, had to venture south to experience these heady delights, but not for much longer. The Scottish Borders could soon be home to a brand new Center Parcs village, if plans for a £400 million development are approved.
Center Parcs’ most northerly outpost is being proposed to open near Hawick, about 55 miles south of Edinburgh, with around 700 lodges and apartments for visitors to stay in.
The new village’s design also includes a ‘Subtropical Swimming Paradise’, a forest spa, and a newly created loch which will be used for watersports. There will also be a nature and heritage centre, wildflower meadows, and wetlands intended to enhance biodiversity. Visitors will be able to take part in a wide range of outdoor activities, ‘thoughtfully integrated into the natural landscape’, and eat at a new restaurant and coffee shop.
If designs are approved, it’ll become the group’s sixth village in the UK, and its first in Scotland. The construction stage is expected to generate 750 to 800 jobs, and once the resort is operational, it’ll provide around 1,200 permanent, non-seasonal roles.
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.
‘Our goal is to create a destination that integrates seamlessly with the natural environment while providing high-quality accommodation and leisure experiences for families.’
Further consultations will be taking place locally in April and May.
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