Scottish Borders Council unanimously approved planning permission for a new village, Center Parcs’ seventh in the UK and Ireland, between Hawick and Selkirk.
17:01, 08 Dec 2025
Centre Parcs may soon be coming to Scotland(Image: )
Planning permission has now been granted for the highly anticipated Center Parc's in the Scottish Borders, just 90 minutes and around 45 miles from Edinburgh.
Scottish Borders Council unanimously approved planning permission for a new village, Center Parcs’ seventh in the UK and Ireland, between Hawick and Selkirk.
The project has been promised to be "enabling and transformative" for the region with plans to create jobs for more than 1,200 people in the area and spawn opportunities for local businesses, with over £450 million pledged to make the dream a reality, reports Chronicle Live.
The aim is to begin work at the site in spring 2026. Should construction progress as planned, it is hoped the new village will open in summer 2029. It will be called Center Parcs Scottish Borders and will be marketed towards bringing families to the area and contribute to the region’s wider tourism goals.
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 set in a natural environment.
Additional key elements of the proposal include two newly created lochs designed for water sports and recreation, as well as a combined Nature and Heritage Centre featuring wildflower meadows, nature trails and wetlands to promote biodiversity. A variety of outdoor activities will be integrated harmoniously into the landscape.
It will be Center Parcs’ first new village since the opening of Longford Forest in Ireland in 2019. The project is expected to contribute £75 million each year to the Scottish Borders economy, including £8.8 million in tourism expenditure.
Through the following months and years to come, Center Parcs has pledged to maintain a strong programme of engagement with local communities, businesses and stakeholders. The company will also host information sessions, as well as supplier and recruitment events across the project.
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."
He continued: “Put simply, we want the village to be an anchor destination that draws visitors to this wonderful region... The opportunities this development will create for the area are truly enabling and transformative.”
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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."
A page has gone up on the official Center Parcs website, describing the Scottish site as a "picturesque location" with "rolling hills and open countryside providing stunning scenery at every turn", "historic houses, grand abbeys, impressive castles and ancient ruins lining the historic landscape", as well as a diverse selection of wildlife, "including ospreys, golden eagles, red squirrels and deer".