Center Parcs submits planning application for proposed Scottish village
Center Parcs has announced today it has submitted a planning application to Scottish Borders Council for the development of a flagship forest village between Hawick and Selkirk, which would bring its leading short-break experience to Scotland.
The submission of the planning application follows eight months of public consultation, including four statutory consultation events in Lilliesleaf, Denholm, Selkirk and Hawick. More than 1,000 members of the public engaged with Center Parcs representatives, providing feedback that has directly shaped and refined the final design proposals.
Early feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with widespread support for the economic and environmental vision underpinning the development.
The planning application can be viewed on the Scottish Borders Council website here.
Colin McKinlay, Chief Executive of Center Parcs, said:
“We’re thrilled to submit our planning application for our proposed Center Parcs village in Scotland. Since unveiling our initial plans in November, it’s been a busy and rewarding eight months of consultation. We’ve listened carefully to feedback from local communities and stakeholders and have worked hard to shape a proposal that is both ambitious and sensitive to its surroundings.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to engage with us. Their insights have helped us develop a design that blends seamlessly with the natural landscape while delivering high-quality accommodation and leisure experiences for families.
“This is an exciting opportunity – not just for Center Parcs but for the Scottish Borders. As we witnessed when we opened our newest location in Longford in Ireland in 2019, a new village has the potential to transform local tourism, create year-round employment and bring a significant boost to the regional economy.
“Center Parcs continues to be a hugely popular destination for families across the UK and Ireland. With many families in Scotland already travelling to our existing villages in England, a Scottish location would allow them to enjoy a premium holiday experience closer to home – while supporting jobs, businesses and tourism in the region.”
The planning application will now be considered by Scottish Borders Council in the coming months, with members of the public able to submit comments via the council’s online planning portal.
The proposed £350–£400 million development would create a state-of-the-art, year-round family destination, bringing significant tourism, employment and environmental benefits to the region.
If approved, the new village would feature around 700 lodges and apartments set in newly created woodland, 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 an adjacent restaurant and coffee shop, wildflower meadows, nature trails, and wetlands to promote biodiversity as well as a wide range of outdoor activities, integrated sympathetically into the landscape.
In addition, Center Parcs plans to plant a forest at the proposed site, in a new approach for the business. Typically, Center Parcs builds its villages in commercial woodlands, improving biodiversity through careful forest management. The proposed site is predominantly open grassland and Center Parcs would plant thousands of native species to create a diverse and thriving woodland.
If given the go ahead, 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 offers long-term career opportunities across a range of sectors, including hospitality, retail and village management.
To coincide with the application submission, Center Parcs has also released a new series of computer-generated images (CGIs) showcasing the village design. These visuals build on a flythrough video unveiled during a consultation in May at Hawick, which offered a virtual tour of key features including the arrivals road, lakeside lodges, spa, leisure facilities and natural spaces.