Thursday December 11th 2025
Map of new Center Parcs Hawick
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Scottish Borders Council has agreed to push ahead with a new bylaw which restricts the ‘responsible rights to roam’ on the site of a proposed £450m holiday park.
Earlier this week SBC’s Planning & Building Standards Committee granted approval for Center Parcs first holiday park in Scotland, on land at and incorporating Huntlaw Farm at Hassendean in Hawick.
It is expected to create approximately 1,200 permanent roles once operational and provide an additional £75m a year to the Borders economy.
Today, Thursday, December 11, members of the full council agreed there was an ‘exceptional case’ for a by-law restricting access to the proposed holiday village.
The decision came after SBC launched an extensive consultation over the planned bylaw, which Center Parcs say is needed to guarantee the security of the site, which would house 700 lodges.
Responsible rights to roam mean enjoying access to open countryside (like mountains, moors, coast) for walking, picnicking, and exploring.
This right, enshrined in Scotland’s Land Reform Act 2003, balances public freedom with landowner rights through responsible behaviour.
Committee members were informed that the earmarked land is currently is not used to any great extent by walkers, although there is some equestrian use.
There was limited opposition to the proposed bylaw with Ramblers Scotland offering no objection and support for it from Hawick, Selkirk, Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk and Midlem community councils.
Members agreed that SBC should now invite Scottish Ministers to confirm the implementation of the bylaw.
Nuala McKinlay, the council’s director of Corporate Governance, told members: “We have gone to the world at large inviting views and we have only had four people stating that they use this site.
“Members if you were a user of this site and there was a public consultation on this matter and you were concerned you would lose that right then you would have objected.
“I would suggest that that at least tends to indicate that the views of your officers on this matter is correct.”
One dissenting voice came from SNP councillor John PatonDay, who represents Leaderdale & Melrose, who said: “I have very serious concerns. When I hear the word ‘exceptional case’, well how many more ‘exceptional cases’ are we going to be presented with.
“I have very serious concerns about the responsible rights to roam. It’s an ancient thing and special to Scotland and I worry that it could be under threat and that this is just the beginning.”
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