Monday December 1st 2025
Proposed New Center Parcs
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A £450m holiday village which will prove a “catalyst to economic regeneration” in the Borders is poised for approval next week.
Center Parcs is set to be given the green light from Scottish Borders Council for its first holiday park in Scotland, on land at and incorporating Huntlaw Farm at Hassendean in Hawick.
Following an extensive public consultation exercise members of SBC’s Planning & Building Standards Committee will be recommended to approve the development when they meet on Monday, December 8.
The project incorporates lodges, apartment buildings, a swimming pool, indoor leisure facilities, a spa facility, retail shops, bars, coffee shops, restaurants and outdoor leisure facilities.
It is estimated that the development represents a £450m investment in the Borders economy which will create a year-round family destination, bringing significant tourism, employment and environmental benefits to the region.
The development is expected to support between 750 and 800 jobs during the construction phase and create approximately 1,200 permanent roles once operational, the majority of which will be filled by local people.
Center Parcs also offers long-term career opportunities across a range of sectors, including hospitality, retail and village management.
Concerns have been raised from some in the rural community at the impact the development will have on their way of life.
There has been further unease at limitations to access as the result of a bye-law restricting the right ro roam.
But in his report to next week’s meeting, recommending approval for the project, SBC lead planning officer Barry Fotheringham presents an enthusiastic judgement on the development’s long-term benefits.
He states: “The proposed holiday village will represent a significant inward investment in the Borders region supporting the tourism industry and wider supply chains.
“The nature, scale and status of the proposed development offer an almost unique status that makes it quite distinct from any other tourism development, particularly in the Borders context.
“Given the scale and size of the development, it is accepted that there will be impacts but having regard to the mitigating factors set out in the accompanying documentation submitted with the application, the proposals will not have an adverse impact on the landscape or the environment.
“There will be a negligible impact on the residential amenity of neighbouring properties, impacts on the surrounding road network are limited.
“The proposals justify a clear requirement for a large rural site located outwith any settlement and there are demonstrable economic and social benefits, not just to the Scottish Borders region but to Scotland as a whole.
“The proposal, which represents a £450 million investment in the region, has the potential to be transformational in the context of the Borders economy, delivering year-round quality jobs as well as hundreds of thousands of new visitors annually, and is likely to act as a catalyst for wider economic regeneration.”
Dependent on planning permission being rubber-stamped building work on the site is set to start in early 2027 with opening earmarked for spring 2029.
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