SCOTLAND’S first Center Parcs holiday village has moved a step closer to reality after an initial planning bid was submitted to Scottish Borders Council.
The new resort – earmarked for land between Hawick and Selkirk – would represent a £350 million investment and could create up to 1200 jobs.
Now Ironside Farrar, on behalf of the applicant, has produced an environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening and scoping report.
It was submitted to the council on Thursday (December 12) ahead of a formal planning bid next year.
The report states: “The new village will be a large-scale development, comprising c. 700 accommodation units, set within existing and newly created forested and landscape areas, together with extensive indoor and outdoor recreation, leisure and sports facilities.
“The key elements of the proposed forest holiday village will be broadly similar to those provided at other Center Parcs sites.
“The development site has been chosen through careful site selection and extensive due diligence and capacity studies to ensure the site is suitable for the nature and scale of the proposed development.
“Site selection criteria also included the potential for significant landscape, habitat and woodland improvements which are central components of all Center Parcs villages.
“The site in the Scottish Borders is different to other Center Parcs location which are typically located within large forested areas.
“The existing site includes a range of forestry plantation compartments of varying age, coupled with areas of woodland and notable trees but with larger areas of open grassland and grazing.
“The existing trees and woodland are to be retained as part of the proposed development as informed by a detailed tree survey.”
Center Parcs currently attracts millions of visitors a year to its six sites across the UK and Ireland.
The plan is to build about 700 lodges with a range of indoor and outdoor activities including an indoor water park.
All the indications are that the development will meet with formal approval, with Hawick elected members and council leaders expressing enthusiasm and support for it and its potential to boost the local economy.
