Center Parcs boss reveals what to expect from brand new holiday park in the UK – and future village locations
The site will be located in the Scottish Borders, north of Hawick and will feature 700 lodges, as well as the brand's iconic Subtropical
Swimming
Paradise and Aqua Sana Forest Spa.
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6
A new Center Parcs will be opening in Scotland in 2029 and is expected to have over 100 activities on offer
Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs
6
The site will be located in the Scottish Borders, north of Hawick and will feature 700 lodges
Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs
6
The brand's iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Forest Spa will be at the village too
Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs
With a planning application submitted this week for the site, Center Parcs CEO Colin McKinlay spoke with The Sun about details of the Scottish village and how it was "staring us in the face as the logical place to put the
next
McKinlay shared: "Our plans in the Scottish Borders [are] to build a Center Parcs with all the same facilities that we see in our other villages in
England
.
"It will have the iconic
pool
, activities,
Unlike other UK villages that have lakes, the Scottish site will have two lochs.
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McKinlay added: "We've taken a typical size of one of those lakes and we've almost divided it into two."
And these lakes will have "gentle" water sport activities, including things such as pedalos and
"
Nice
and gentle but
Setting the Scottish village apart from other villages in the UK, there will also be a Heritage Centre.
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"We're conscious that in the Scottish Borders there's a huge amount of natural heritage and
history
here," McKinlay shared.
"To recognise that, one of the things we'll have on this village is a heritage centre.
The new Center Parcs holiday resort that has opened in Europe
As for the layout of the village, the CEO added that whilst it will take many attributes from other UK sites, "each time we build a new village, we like to make it a little bit more special".
A woodcraft workshop will also allow families to carve
models
together and a permanent
winter
.
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And the CEO shared that the park will have around 100 different activities that people can do, such as Action Challenge and a TAG Challenge Arena.
But activities don't stop there - with the plans also revealing that Crazi Bugz, off-road explorers and laser combat could feature.
The Scottish Borders village is also likely to have between 10 and 14 different restaurant and bar experiences.
Whilst McKinlay expressed this hasn't been finalised yet, he did share that they will have areas "promoting the nuances of Scottish food".
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6
Unlike other UK villages that have lakes, the Scottish site will have two lochs
Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs
Plans show a Pancake House and cafe are already proposed for the village.
"We're hoping for a determination of that planning application by the end of the calendar year, hopefully," he stated.
"I would be very hopeful to be able to open in
spring
,
summer
of 2029 - which means that we would aim to go on sale probably nine months prior to that."
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In regard to the rest of the UK, the CEO added: "I wouldn't rule out other Center Parcs in other locations in the UK.
"I believe there are opportunities beyond that [Scotland], probably elsewhere in England - possibly in the south east."
6
The Scottish village will also have a Heritage Centre - unique to the site
Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs
A number of new initiatives are being rolled out across the UK too, from premium
restaurants
to new leisure activities such as a forest gliding experience.
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The holiday
company is also celebrating the highest ever guest satisfaction scores in the past 12 months, in its 38-year history.
The Scottish Borders Center Parcs project is expected to cost between £350 and £400million.
In total, it is anticipated the new village will also create 1,200 permanent
jobs
and attract more than 350,000 visitors each year.
Center Parcs launches first-ever new adventure attraction
CENTER Parcs has opened a new treetop experience at one of their holiday parks in the UK - the first of its kind for the resort.
Opening at Longleat on July 1, Adventure Nets allows families to "bounce, balance, leap and climb through the stunning redwood canopy", according to Center Parcs.
The attraction features a number of treehouses that are connected by suspended nets, seven metres in the air.
Visitors can crawl through tunnels, cross rope bridges and enjoy a trampoline area at the attraction too.
Families on the course can also use TAG Active technology which allows guests to 'tag' beacons around the course and play TAG games such as treasure hunts in their hour-session.
There is also a new European Center Parcs resort that is quiet in August – and much cheaper than in the UK.
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Plus, the
6
Center Parcs hopes to have a result from the planning application by the end of the year
Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs
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