Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 1 hour ago
Last updated 1 hour ago
Center Parcs plans to build its first holiday village in Scotland are set to be given the go-ahead next week.
Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee is being recommended to APPROVE the 700-lodge development – just off the A7, north of Hawick, when it meets on Monday (December 8th).
However, with the park expected to attract hundreds of thousands of extra visitors to the region every year, the leisure operator must come up with proposals to improve the flow of traffic at a pinch point further up the trunk road, in Galashiels, as part of a number of conditions if work is to proceed.
A report being presented to councillors ahead of the meeting states: “Given the scale and size of the development, it is accepted that there will be impacts but, having regard to the mitigating factors set out in the accompanying documentation submitted with the application, the proposals will not have an adverse impact on the landscape or the environment.
“There will be a negligible impact on the residential amenity of neighbouring properties.” And, it adds: “Impacts on the surrounding road network are limited.”
Center Parcs CEO Colin McKinlay unveils his vision for a new 700-lodge holiday village in the Scottish Borders.
More than 30 objections have been lodged against the plans, which include the creation of lochs, indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, a restaurant, shops, spa and bars.
As well as the visual impact, concerns have centered around the potential light pollution, noise and additional traffic which could be created; in addition to the demolition of Huntlaw Farm buildings.
But an environmental study assessed the overall impact of the development as being “not significant”.
Center Parcs has held a series of public events to help shape the masterplan for the site.
The development is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs, and generate around £27 million a year for the local economy.
If approved, it’s hoped work could start in the new year, with the site ready to welcome its first visitors in early 2029.
Councillors will meet at Scottish Borders Council’s headquarters in Newtown St Boswells at 10am on December 8th to discuss the application..
The 99-page report – signed by the local authority’s Chief Planning and Housing Officer, John Hayward – concludes: “The proposals justify a clear requirement for a large rural site located outwith any settlement and there are demonstrable economic and social benefits, not just to the Scottish Borders region but to Scotland as a whole.
“The proposal, which represents a £450 million investment in the region, has the potential to be transformational in the context of the Borders economy, delivering year-round quality jobs as well as hundreds of thousands of new visitors annually, and is likely to act as a catalyst for wider economic regeneration.”
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page – https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/