South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) has welcomed the approval of Center Parc’s plans to create its first Scottish holiday village in the South of Scotland.
Work is now expected to begin next year on the £400million development just north of Hawick, which is predicted to create up to 800 jobs during construction, 1,200 permanent roles when fully operational and boost the local economy by £8.8million each year.
SOSE has been working closely with the Center Parcs team throughout the early stages of this project and supporting their engagement with local communities and businesses.
The region’s economic and community development agency will continue to provide support to help ensure this transformational project comes to fruition.
Russel Griggs, Chair of SOSE, said:
“This is a hugely significant milestone not just for Center Parcs, but for the Scottish Borders, and the South of Scotland.
“It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this stage, and there is more hard work to come but SOSE and our partners are committed to supporting Center Parcs with their exciting plans, which will be transformational for our region.
“The benefits are expected to be widespread, with the most recent Center Parcs village to open in Ireland making a positive impact on rural repopulation and retaining young people in the area.”
Jane Morrison-Ross, Chief Executive of SOSE, added:
“An investment of this scale by Center Parcs presents massive opportunities for Hawick and the Scottish Borders.
“It 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.
“Center Parcs is one of the most significant investments for our region, and it is proving a catalyst for other inward investors who are quickly realising that the South of Scotland is the place to do business.”
