Find more funding
There are many other organisations who may be offering funding that will help you, and our handy funding search tool brings them all together.
Plans approved for major employment development
SOSE welcomes approval of Center Parcs’ plans to create a holiday village in the South of Scotland
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.”
The site lies to the east of the A7 trunk road between Hawick and Selkirk on land owned by the Buccleuch Group, which has signed an option agreement with Center Parcs. The agreement covers approximately 1,000 acres of land, comprising open grassland and some woodland. It is expected that development on the site will extend to 400 acres.
As well as the usual facilities expected at Center Parcs facility, the main difference will be the creation of our woodland with the planting thousands of new trees. The site is currently open grassland, and it is hoped that the planting will transform the site into thriving woodland to create a rich, natural habitat where wildlife can flourish.
Colin McKinlay, Chief Executive Officer of Center Parcs, said:
“This is a tremendously exciting project and offers the opportunity to transform leisure and tourism in the Scottish Borders. Center Parcs is an exceptionally popular destination for families in the UK and Ireland and there is robust demand to support a seventh village.”
