Monday December 8th 2025
An artist's impression of one of the new holiday homes.
A transformational £450m holiday village in the Scottish Borders was today given the green light. Center Parcs now has approval for its first holiday park in Scotland, on land at and incorporating Huntlaw Farm at Hassendean in Hawick.
Scottish Borders Council’s Planning and Building Standards Committee endorsed the holiday park today with members learning that the new tourism site will from now on be known as ‘Center Parcs Scottish Borders’.
It is expected to support between 750 and 800 jobs during the construction phase and create approximately 1,200 permanent roles once operational.
An additional £75m a year will also be added to the Borders economy, Center Parcs estimate.
But councillors also learned that the development had brought one farming family to “absolute breaking point”. Members heard the concerns of the Lewis Family at Cotfield Farm in Hawick over the negative impact the development will have on their lives and livelihood.
A spokesperson said: “These proposals will enclose two sides of my family’s home at Cotfield and they have brought my family to absolute breaking point.
“This has been so severe that this Autumn I was hospitalised as a direct result. Despite legitimate concerns objectors have not been taken seriously and we have seen no meaningful change to the proposal.
“It’s heartbreaking that the impact on neighbours is described as ‘negligible’. The family and others have already endured a year of dismissal. It is hard to describe how low this has brought us.”
The spokesperson said the economic benefit had not been properly verified and that there was no guarantee that local businesses and workforce would benefit.
Concerns were also raised at the lack of housing for the workforce.
In response, Colin McKinlay, chief executive of Center Parcs, highlighted the extensive community engagement that had been carried out and the “tangible changes” implemented as a result.
He said: “Center Parcs has an extraordinary positive impact on the communities surrounding its villages.
“When we identified the Borders for our seventh village we were of course attracted by the stunning views, the rich heritage and of course the warm hospitality.
“But we also saw an opportunity to contribute to the goal of making the Borders a ‘go to not a go through’ destination. Center Parcs can act as an anchor point, encouraging more families to explore the rich heritage and rolling landscape of the Borders.”
Selkirkshire Conservative councillor Leagh Douglas expressed general support for the development but raised concern at the impact of increased traffic and potential problems over workforce recruitment.
She said: “There is no doubt this a major investment opportunity for the Borders but we cannot ignore the scale of the pressure it will bring, especially on our road network, our workforce and housing.
“The impact of traffic will be felt first and foremost by residents in Selkirk, Ashkirk, Lilliesleaf and other villages and rural areas around the site.”
Committee members unanimously supported the application following a site visit last week.
Councillor Donald Moffat said: “I first got elected onto this commitee in 1989 and I must say this is one of the most impressive and exciting developments I’ve seen for Hawick and the Borders as a whole. It has tremendous economic benefits. This is massive good news.”
The village will incorporate 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.
Center Parcs also offers long-term career opportunities across a range of sectors, including hospitality, retail and village management.
Building work on the site is now set to start in early 2027 with opening earmarked for spring 2029.
Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured planning permission for the creation of our seventh Center Parcs village.
“It has been a whirlwind journey since we first announced our intention to bring Center Parcs to the region, and the welcome we have received from local communities, businesses and stakeholders has been genuinely heartening. Their engagement has been invaluable in shaping the design of the village and in supporting the development of a robust, well-considered planning application, and we look forward to continuing that engagement in the months and years ahead.
“We’re also pleased to confirm that the new village will be named Center Parcs Scottish Borders. We explored a range of options, but this was the name we kept returning to. Put simply, we want the village to be an anchor destination that draws visitors to this wonderful region – and we believe this name will help do exactly that. The opportunities this development will create for the area are truly enabling and transformative.”
Center Parcs Scottish Borders will see the company plant a forest for the first time, carefully selecting complementary and native species to create a thriving woodland. The village will feature up to 700 lodges and apartments, the iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a Village Centre with shops and restaurants, and the signature Aqua Sana Forest Spa – a tranquil retreat nestled in a natural setting.
Other key features of the proposal include two newly created lochs designed for water sports and recreation, a combined Nature and Heritage Centre with, wildflower meadows, nature trails, and wetlands to promote biodiversity as well as a wide range of outdoor activities, integrated sympathetically into the landscape.
It will be Center Parcs’ first new village since the opening of Longford Forest in Ireland in 2019.
Colin added: “This village will be truly unique. The scale of the site, the setting and the ability to plant and shape a brand-new forest give us the chance to take a bold step forward in both design and sustainability.
“Center Parcs Scottish Borders will allow us to reach a new market, attracting families from across Scotland and the north of England who may not have previously considered a Center Parcs break. We know there is strong demand, and this village will meet it with a modern offer that reflects what families want from a premium short break.
“Sustainability sits at the core of this project. From the creation of an entirely new woodland – planting hundreds of thousands of trees – to the restoration of natural habitats and the integration of green technologies, this village will embody the low-impact, nature-positive approach that defines Center Parcs. It is an investment not just in tourism, but in the landscape, the local economy and the long-term future of the Scottish Borders.”
The village will lie to the east of the A7 trunk road between Hawick and Selkirk on land owned by the Buccleuch Group, which has signed an option agreement with Center Parcs. The agreement covers approximately 1,000 acres of land, with the main development being built on approximately 500 acres on the eastern section of the site.
Benny Higgins, Executive Chairman of the Buccleuch Group, said: “This is tremendously exciting news for the Scottish Borders. Outstanding social, economic and environmental benefits have been delivered at other Center Parcs locations, and I have no doubt the Scottish Borders will enjoy a similar positive impact. Buccleuch is proud to be playing a role in helping to facilitate this project, and we look forward to collaborating with Center Parcs in the decades ahead.”
The South of Scotland Destination Alliance’s chief executive David Hope-Jones said:
“We welcome the decision to give Scotland’s first Center Parcs the green light – it is a huge endorsement of our region’s fast-growing reputation as a year-round destination. The development will attract new visitors to the Scottish Borders, create 1,200 new permanent year-round jobs and allow us to tell our story as a destination loudly and proudly.
“Our South of Scotland 2024-34 Responsible Tourism Strategy aims to increase the number of jobs in our visitor economy by 6,000 over the next decade and this one proposed development has the potential to achieve 20% of this ten-year regional target.
“We represent 750 tourism and hospitality businesses across the South of Scotland and welcome this investment in our economy, but most importantly we want to ensure that this development is embedded sensitively within our visitor economy, encouraging people to spend more, explore further and stay longer. It’s all about trying to spread the economic benefits to as many existing businesses and communities across the south of Scotland as possible.
“We look forward to working closely with Center Parcs and building a fruitful partnership together in the coming months and years.”
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