Center Parcs UK Receives Planning Permission for Project in Scotland

(eap) Center Parcs UK & Ireland is planning to expand its offering of holiday destinations and, in the future, attract holidaymakers to Scotland as well: On a site of more than 400 hectares in the Scottish Borders, the company will develop the first Center Parcs holiday village in the country. The project, which includes up to 700 lodges and apartments, has now received the planning permission – construction is scheduled to begin next spring.

“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,” states Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs UK & Ireland, adding: “We’re also pleased to confirm that the new village will be named Center Parcs Scottish Borders. […] We want the village to be an anchor destination that draws visitors to this wonderful region […].”

In addition to the accommodation, the holiday village will feature a subtropical-themed swimming paradise, a central village centre with shops and restaurants, and the signature “Aqua Sana Forest Spa”. Other key elements of the project include two purpose-built lochs designed for water sports and leisure activities, 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 that will be integrated sensitively into the landscape. If the development proceeds according to schedule, the first Scottish Center Parcs destination is planned to open in summer 2029. It will also be the first new village built by Center Parcs UK & Ireland since the opening of Longford Forest in Ireland in 2019 (c.f. EAP 3/2018).

“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,” McKinlay concluded.

Some 450 million British pounds (just under 515 million euros) are planned to be invested in the new holiday village. The project is expected to create more than 1,200 jobs and contribute over 75 million British pounds (approx. 85 million euros) annually to the economy of the Scottish Borders region. ■