Center Parcs submits Borders holiday village plans

Center Parcs has submitted the planning application for its first Scottish holiday village in the Borders.

The holiday village company says the development could attract more than 350,000 visitors a year to the site near Hawick.

Proposals were first unveiled for the multi-million pound development in November last year.

Plans have now been formally submitted to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) following a series of public consultation events.

Center Parcs currently attracts millions of visitors a year to its six sites across the UK and Ireland.

The development in the Borders - which it estimates would generate nearly £9m-a-year for the local economy - would be its first in Scotland.

The proposals would see hundreds of lodges constructed on the site at Huntlaw Farm near the A7.

If planning permission is secured, the company has said the village could open to the public as soon as 2029.

Four community consultation events were held before submitting the planning application.

Concerns have been voiced about the loss of usable farmland and also that visitors to the village might not venture into surrounding areas, prompting questions about the wider economic benefits for the Borders as a whole.

Chief executive Colin McKinlay said the company had "listened carefully" to what the community had to say about its plans.

"We're incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to engage with us," he said.

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

The plans will now go before SBC for approval before they can make any further progress.