Saturday February 22nd 2025
An example of a Center Parcs Executive Lodge.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A proposed £400m Borders holiday park has passed its first planning hurdle with flying colours.
Details of the plans for Center Parcs first holiday village in Scotland, earmarked for land just north of Hawick, were announced in November last year.
On February 7 the company submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to Scottish Borders Council, ahead of a full planning application expected this summer.
The PAN is the first stage in the statutory planning process.
It 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.
Just days after the PAN was submitted on February 7th it has already been endorsed by SBC, a spokesperson stating it “satisfies the minimum statutory consultation activities that are required”.
The rapidity of the response reflects the enthusiasm for the development to go-ahead from SBC elected members, and the recognised benefits to the Borders economy it will bring.
PAN approval means it’s now full steam ahead for the next stage in the planning process.
The new holiday village would have up to 700 lodges, a spa, an indoor water park, indoor and outdoor leisure and sports facilities, as well as a mixture of retail and restaurant facilities, bars, coffee shops and 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 1200 permanent, non-seasonal roles. The total investment to bring this new village to life is estimated at between £350m and £400m.
Center Parcs has six holiday 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.
Tweet Share on Facebook
