Plans have been approved for Scotland's first Center Parcs holiday village.
Planning permission has been granted for the new village in the Scottish Borders, which will be Center Parcs' seventh destination in the UK and Ireland.
Scottish Borders Council unanimously approved the plans to construct the £450 million resort, which will create jobs for more than 1,200 people.
Detailed design work and tendering processes will now begin, with Center Parcs aiming to start work at the site next spring. An opening is scheduled for summer 2029.
The new village, named Center Parcs Scottish Borders, is expected to contribute £75m each year to the Scottish Borders economy.
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.
"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."
Work to start on £450m Center Parcs
Center Parcs Scottish Borders will see the company plant a forest for the first time, and will feature up to 700 lodges and apartments.
Highlights will include the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a Village Centre with shops and restaurants, and the signature Aqua Sana Forest Spa.
Also on offer will be two lochs for water sports and recreation, a nature and heritage centre, and wildflower meadows, nature trails and wetlands to promote biodiversity.
"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," McKinlay said.
“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."
Center Parcs Scottish Borders will be the company's first new village since the opening of Longford Forest in Ireland in 2019.
Images courtesy of Center Parcs
