PROPOSALS for a £400m holiday park represents an exciting ‘new dawn’ for the Borders, according to extremely supportive senior council leaders.

Tourism in the region has received a massive shot in the arm after it was revealed that Center Parcs plans to build its first park in Scotland, to the east of the A7 trunk road between Hawick and Selkirk, on land owned by the Buccleuch Group, which has signed an option agreement with the company.

The proposed development, consisting of 700 lodges, is expected to create more than one-thousand permanent non-seasonal jobs.

The announcement was made today (Tuesday, November 5) at a gathering of community leaders and business and political representatives at Hawick Rugby Club.

Those in attendance were told that the development “offers the opportunity to transform leisure and tourism in the Scottish Borders”.

Planning approval is to be sought next year and, if all goes to plan, the park should be up and running by 2028.

It has emerged that Center Parcs looked at more than 100 possible locations around the UK for its seventh holiday village, before choosing the spot on which it plans to build its first Scottish site.

Galashiels councillor Euan Jardine, leader of Scottish Borders Council, was effusive in his support.

He said: “This is a huge day and very exciting day. The negotiations have been going on for over two years and they have also been working with the Scottish Government and the First Minister and deputy First Minister, so it’s been a long time in coming.

“We’ve already opened discussions with the chief planning officer and Center Parcs to see what we need to do, with the planning application expected in the summer of 2025.

“This is a memorable day for the Borders, and not just Hawick and Selkirk, but for the whole of the Borders.

“It now gives us a real focal point and puts the Borders on the map in terms of tourism.”

Council convener and Hawick & Hermitage councillor Watson McAteer was equally enthusiastic.

He said: “This absolutely fantastic news for Hawick and the Borders and indeed for Scotland. It represents a huge opportunity for the area.

“This is going to be game-changing and provide jobs in a fantastic location and I think the people of Hawick will be absolutely thrilled.

“There will absolutely be the will to push this through the planning process. I would be surprised and extremely disappointed if every effort wasn’t made to ensure that this goes through.

“This is an ambitious company and the location they have chosen is quite magnificent with spectacular views and beautiful countryside. They couldn’t have found a better location.”

Mr McAteer believes that news of the development represents a “new dawn” for the town he represents and the wider Borders, adding: “My hope that this is the catalyst to more sustained opportunities for businesses. Every other local business in the town, both retail and commercial, can benefit off the back of this development or be directly involved in the building or thereafter in the day to day running.”

The proposed village will be a similar concept to Center Parcs’ existing six holiday villages in England and Ireland.

The site will offer a range of indoor and outdoor activities, shops, bars, restaurants, an Aqua Sana Forest Spa and Center Parcs’ iconic indoor water park, the subtropical swimming paradise.

Center Parcs plans to undertake an extensive programme of afforestation, carefully cultivating a new woodland and delivering significant biodiversity net gain on the site. Currently, the site is predominantly open grassland with some woodland areas.

Colin McKinlay, chief executive officer of Center Parcs, said: “This has the potential to be a game-changer economically locally and for the region.

“We are very keen to engage with all the communities which will hopefully which will bring us to the point of a planning application during the course of 2025.

“It’s a very exciting time and we received a very warm reception from the communities we spoke to this morning.

“We are at an early stage with these proposals and have a lengthy and thorough planning process ahead. 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.”

During the construction phase of the project, 750-800 mainly regional jobs will be created, and local contractors will be used where possible.

Once operational, the village is expected to create around 1,200 permanent non-seasonal jobs. These will be largely local jobs and offer significant career opportunities, including management positions. Local suppliers will also be used as much as possible.

The estimated investment to build the new village will be between £350m-£400m.

The agreement covers approximately 1,000 acres of land, comprising open grassland and some woodland. It is expected that development on the site will extend to 400 acres.

A website outlining the plans – www.centerparcsscotland.co.uk – will go live shortly and will provide updates on the project.