Work begins at new Scottish Center Parcs with promise of 1,200 jobs

First Minister John Swinney was at the site between Hawick and Selkirk to mark the milestone, with Scotland’s first Center Parcs estimated to drive around £75m a year into the economy of the Borders.

During the visit, Mr Swinney also confirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide up to £30 million to deliver the essential infrastructure needed to make the resort possible.

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This funding will support enabling works to prepare the site, whilst also providing significant benefit for communities living in the Scottish Borders.

Mr Swinney, who planted new trees with schoolchildren at the site of the resort, said: "Economic growth must reach the people and places that need it most. Investing in the South of Scotland through this project is a direct expression of our belief that every part of Scotland deserves to benefit from a growing economy.

“Investing here is a deliberate statement that we are serious about reducing regional inequality and creating genuine opportunity for young people - 30% of these 1,200 jobs are targeted at 16-to-24-year-olds.

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“It is a privilege to be here with local school children to start planting new trees for the site and I look forward to seeing the development of the project before the resort opens in 2029.”

As part of the development, Center Parcs will create an entirely new forest - the first time the company has established woodland from scratch when developing a new village.

Hundreds of thousands of trees will be planted across the site, forming woodland that will mature over the coming decades to create a natural setting for the resort and boost biodiversity on the land.

Planting will gather pace over the coming months, with more than 30 species of trees and plants - including Scots pine, silver birch and aspen - planned for the site ahead of the main development phase.

Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said: “This marks another momentous milestone in the creation of Center Parcs Scottish Borders and it is fantastic that the First Minister and local schoolchildren were able to join us as we begin work on site.

“It was hugely important for us to involve local children today because the benefits Center Parcs Scottish Borders will bring will have a long-lasting and transformative effect on the future of this area in terms of jobs, the economy and the environment.

“We are very grateful for the support of the Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council, South of Scotland Enterprise and many other partners who have worked with us to unlock the potential of this project, and it is incredibly exciting to see work at the site now getting underway.”

Center Parcs Scottish Borders will feature up to 700 lodges and apartments, the iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a village centre with shops and restaurants, and the signature Aqua Sana Forest Spa - a tranquil retreat set within the surrounding woodland.

Plans also include two newly created lochs designed for water sports and recreation, a combined Nature and Heritage Centre, wildflower meadows, wetlands and nature trails to support biodiversity, alongside a wide range of outdoor activities integrated sensitively into the landscape.

It will be Center Parcs’ first new village since Longford Forest in Ireland opened in 2019.

Professor Russel Griggs, chair of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), said: “This is a significant moment for the South of Scotland, with Center Parcs being one of a number of big investments we are currently welcoming to our region.

“Center Parcs presents massive opportunities and will help diversify the visitor economy, attract new people, deliver inclusive growth and provide significant supply chain opportunities for SMEs and entrepreneurs.

“This investment also provides a chance to tackle head-on the economic challenges of the past which still impact communities such as Hawick.”