A new Center Parcs will soon be coming to the UK, adding a new holiday park to its existing six forest lodge sites. 

The proposed £450 million site would be located in Hassendean near Hawick and would be the first Center Parcs in Scotland. Despite some local objections to the proposed 700-lodge site, planning officials have recommended it be given the green light, meaning works could start as early as next year.

Center Parcs previously released images of what its proposed park would look like, and some of the facilities visitors could expect. The plans include a large indoor swimming complex featuring a lazy river, a spa, lakeside lodges, a pancake house, and a sports plaza. Like other Center Parcs parks, there will be outdoor trails surrounded by trees, and the site will feature a Nature and Heritage Centre.

Center Parcs also released a video showing a flyover of the proposed site along with artists’ impressions of how it may look. Accessed through a long country road, the plans show a park surrounded by greenery and countryside, with lodges among the trees.

The video also included images of a waterfront area with paddleboards and other water sports on offer, as well as an outdoor dining area. The plans also include apartments close to the centre of the park with waterfront views.

Barry Fotheringham, lead planning officer at Scottish Borders Council, told the BBC: “The proposals justify a clear requirement for a large rural site located outwith any settlement and there are demonstrable economic and social benefits, not just to the Scottish Borders region but to Scotland as a whole.”

He added: “The proposal, which represents a £450m investment in the region, has the potential to be transformational in the context of the Borders economy, delivering year-round quality jobs as well as hundreds of thousands of new visitors annually, and is likely to act as a catalyst for wider economic regeneration.”

The planning committee is set to make a final decision on whether the park will go ahead by December 8. If granted, the park could welcome its first visitors in early 2029.

Centre Parcs already has six lodges across the UK and is known for its forest locations and large indoor swimming complexes.

The most recent opening was Woburn Forest in 2014, which is based in the Bedfordshire countryside, about half an hour from Bedford. Other park locations include Cumbria, Nottinghamshire, Wiltshire, and Suffolk.

Earlier this year, Center Parcs made a change to arrival times, starting new staggered entry times in a bid to reduce congestion and make checking in quicker. Arrival times are now sent in a pre-arrival email or booking confirmation. A spokesman said at the time: “By staggering lodge entry times, we are aiming to reduce traffic on the village, minimise queues, improve availability of parking spaces and give guests staying in premium lodges even more time to settle in.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com