UK's newest £350m Center Parcs in rural tiny town and exactly how it will look
Center Parcs has released the first glimpse of what its latest UK resort - predicted to cost at least £350 million - will look like, after submitting a formal planning application
Brits have been given the first-ever glimpse of what could soon become the UK's newest Center Parcs. The holiday brand, which came to Britain back in 1987, submitted a formal planning application to open a huge resort near the tiny rural town of Hawick, Scotland.
Center Parcs has its heart set on building around 700 lodges and tourist facilities - such as its iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise, and Aqua Sana Spa - conveniently located just off the A7. This area, which is south of Selkirk, boasts diverse wildlife including ospreys, golden eagles, red squirrels, and deer - and is near a slew of historic houses, castles, and abbeys.
The mega project, predicted to cost between £350 million and £400 million, will create around 1,200 jobs and become the seventh UK Center Parcs location. This week, the travel giant held a two-day community consultation (from May 20-21) in Hawick to discuss details with locals.
According to the BBC, concern has been raised over the loss of usable farmland. Some residents are also worried tourists will visit the Center Parcs complex and then leave the area - which won't support local businesses.
However, the company, which is accepting comments on the proposed site until Friday, June 6, says most of its guests who stay for the weekend end up 'exploring' the local area too. It also released a fly-through video and 3D model to show locals exactly what the holiday village would look like.
The computer-generated images reveal the epic site will feature the classic Center Parcs central hub which homes its Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a huge lake where guests can hire boats, as well as restaurants and a spa - all set amongst lush woodlands. "The flythrough video and 3D model really help bring the plans to life and add to the real sense of anticipation that has been evident at recent consultation events," the company's chief executive, Colin McKinlay, said.
The Center Parcs boss added that the company is working hard to ensure its proposals reflect feedback it has received from the community. "It's one thing to describe what we're hoping to build, but seeing it laid out visually captures the ambition of what we're planning," he explained.
Scotland's first-ever Center Parcs aims to open its doors by 2029. In the meantime, Brits can holiday in any of the six sites currently operating in the UK. These are Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire; Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire; Elveden Forest, Suffolk; Whinfell Forest, Cumbria, or Longleat Forest, Wiltshire.
Guests can choose to stay for three, four, or seven nights - with all breaks starting on either a Friday or Monday. Prices will vary depending on what type of accommodation you choose, as well as if you're visiting during peak breaks. Half-term visits start from £749 *.
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