July 9 2025

Detailed plans for the first Center Parcs village in Scotland have been made public, detailing a self contained holiday park located on 1,000 acres of farmland near Hawick.

Overseen by Jackson Design Associates and Holder Mathias Architects the holiday village will be dominated by a 'sub tropical' indoor pool with associated recreation facilities, 646 lodges and 48 apartments served by a 1,723 space car park.

Center Parcs CEO Colin McKinlay commented: "Over the last eight months, we’ve listened carefully to feedback from local communities and stakeholders and have worked hard to shape a proposal that is both ambitious and sensitive to its surroundings.

"Your insights have helped us develop a design that, we believe, blends seamlessly with the natural landscape while delivering high-quality accommodation and leisure experiences for families."

The village centre is situated in a local dip in the topography to help conceal the 19m tall swimming pool in long views, necessary to house various water attractions. Unlike previous Center Parcs this facility will de-emphasise the use of roof glazing in light of energy considerations with a silver-grey roof and edge profile accentuating its distinctive sweep. 

8 Comments

#1 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 9 Jul 2025 at 12:08 PM

Ok, let's see if this attracts the same outcry from objectors as the application in Balloch by Flamingo Land Ltd, which was much smaller, on a brown field site and in an area badly in need of investment.

Answer: it won't.

The reason the Balloch proposal attracted such flak:
a) It was submitted under the company name of 'Flamingo Land' which conjured a tacky image despite no flamingo-related attractions proposed (the developments name ‘Lomond Banks’ would have been better), and
b) Despite the actual run-down urban backdrop of Balloch, the site is technically on Loch Lomond, which conjured images of an unspoilt lochside.

Social media planning objection campaign bandwagons are the worst, and all objections no matter how remote (Margaret in Manchester who doesn't want a flamingo theme park in Luss) are considered equally valid.

This proposal by Center Parcs will sail through despite being a green field site, simply because Hawick is less well-known than Loch Lomond and because they've not submitted the application under 'Giant Overpriced Creche Ltd'.

#2 Posted by * on 9 Jul 2025 at 16:36 PM

#1 - didn't realise that Hawick was in a National Park?

#3 Posted by Traumatised on 9 Jul 2025 at 17:21 PM

Nevertheless, I remember once in a former life, i had to stay in a center parcs nearby just over the border for a week. Self-contained is an understatement. All that was missing was the barbed wire and watchtowers.

#4 Posted by Jimbob Tanktop on 9 Jul 2025 at 19:29 PM

Isn't Center Parcs just Butlins for people who don't eat lasagne from a packet?

#5 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 14 Jul 2025 at 11:40 AM

National Park status does not mean no development (particularly in build-up areas that fall within the NP perimeter) and even in NPs they should take into account the value of investment.

You're picturing some unspoilt Bonnie Bonnie Banks, aren't you? The site largely sits between a retail park and a housing development. Of course, I do understand that the headline 'flamingoland in Loch Lomond National Park' does create a certain image. The Center Parks proposal is on and within open unspoilt farmland, but beacause no NP designation it's all good.

Little wonder Galloway turned down the offer of a National Park - little real good comes of it for residents.

#6 Posted by wonky on 14 Jul 2025 at 12:36 PM

Hopefully this will bring much needed investment, jobs & visitors for Hawick/Selkirk/Jed etc and tourism for an incredibly beautiful yet underrated area of Scotland.

PS

Is it okay to eat lasagne from a packet if its from Waitrose?

#7 Posted by Geraffie on 14 Jul 2025 at 17:11 PM

#5 - A rough calculation says the Borders is 80.3% agricultural land. You couldn't throw a stone without hitting 'unspoilt farmland' - bit of an oxymoron. It's barely even that - former forestry land in places. Couldn't be more ecologically dead if you tried.

The Borders is crying out for tourists and jobs. Looks like a positive development.

#8 Posted by Urban Realm's Culinary Correspondent on 14 Jul 2025 at 22:16 PM

Q: Is it okay to eat lasagne from a packet if its from Waitrose?

A: Yes, of course. Plus you get extra kudos points if it's from the Waitrose No.1 range.

Meantime, slightly confused how 646 lodges + 48 apartments = 1,723 space car park. Surely that's around double what you'd need?

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