Center Parcs announces brand new UK resort with 700 lodges and 'subtropical' water park

Center Parcs is gearing up to launch its inaugural holiday village in , anticipated to generate roughly 1,200 permanent jobs.

Still in early planning phases, the company aims to put in a 2025 planning application for about 700 lodges and an array of activities including a Subtropical Swimming Paradise, Aqua Sana Forest Spa and a range of restaurants, shops and leisure facilities.

The chosen spot lies a mere three miles north of Hawick and 55 miles from Edinburgh's buzz. CEO Colin McKinlay expressed excitement: "This is a tremendously exciting project and offers the opportunity to transform leisure and tourism in the Scottish Borders.

"Center Parcs is an exceptionally popular destination for families in the UK and Ireland and there is robust demand to support a seventh village."

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Mr McKinlay also highlighted the economic upsides: "Throughout our history, we have demonstrated that a Center Parcs village provides significant economic benefits locally, regionally and nationally.

"Many Scottish families already visit Center Parcs villages in England, and this village will offer the chance for people to enjoy their holidays closer to home, which in turn will benefit the local economy."

This Scottish venture would mirror the layout and offerings of the other six Center Parcs across England and Ireland.

Center Parcs revealed that its ambitious plans for a new woodland haven would include a whopping investment of £350million to £400million. Mr McKinlay emphasised the company's commitment to the environment, saying: "Sustainability is core to our values. In our three decades of operating in the UK and Ireland, we have transformed areas of commercial woodland into a rich tapestry of flora and fauna, considerably enhancing the biodiversity of each village.

"This site gives us the opportunity to take a bold, new approach and create a woodland ourselves, delivering significant biodiversity net gain and planting thousands of new trees. We are at an early stage with these proposals and have a lengthy and thorough planning process ahead."

Mr McKinlay also mentioned ongoing efforts to understand the site better: "We have already conducted a significant number of surveys to assess the site and we intend to continue with additional site surveys and design development, alongside a programme of pre-planning application consultation and community engagement."

The construction phase promises to boost local employment significantly, with 750-800 jobs primarily from the region expected to be created, favouring local contractors.

The proposed site, owned by the Buccleuch Group, spans approximately 1,000 acres of open grassland and some woodland, with the development poised to cover around 400 acres.

Benny Higgins, the executive chairman of Buccleuch Group, has expressed enthusiasm about the new venture, saying: "This project promises to have an outstandingly positive impact on tourism and leisure in the Scottish Borders and we are delighted to have signed an option agreement that will enable Center Parcs to take the next steps towards fulfilling its ambitions."