Center Parcs boss reveals what to expect from brand new holiday park in the UK – and future village locations
The site will be located in the Scottish Borders, north of Hawick and will feature 700 lodges, as well as the brand's iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Forest Spa.
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With a planning application submitted this week for the site, Center Parcs CEO Colin McKinlay spoke with The Sun about details of the Scottish village and how it was "staring us in the face as the logical place to put the next Center Parcs".
McKinlay shared: "Our plans in the Scottish Borders [are] to build a Center Parcs with all the same facilities that we see in our other villages in England.
"It will have the iconic pool, activities, a spa, about 700 lodges ... all of the facilities people are used to seeing at the other villages."
Unlike other UK villages that have lakes, the Scottish site will have two lochs.
McKinlay added: "We've taken a typical size of one of those lakes and we've almost divided it into two."
And these lakes will have "gentle" water sport activities, including things such as pedalos and kayaking.
"Nice and gentle but family-oriented activities," said McKinlay.
Setting the Scottish village apart from other villages in the UK, there will also be a Heritage Centre.
"We're conscious that in the Scottish Borders there's a huge amount of natural heritage and history here," McKinlay shared.
"To recognise that, one of the things we'll have on this village is a heritage centre.
The new Center Parcs holiday resort that has opened in Europe
As for the layout of the village, the CEO added that whilst it will take many attributes from other UK sites, "each time we build a new village, we like to make it a little bit more special".
A woodcraft workshop will also allow families to carve models together and a permanent Santa's Grotto will let guests meet Santa each winter.
And the CEO shared that the park will have around 100 different activities that people can do, such as Action Challenge and a TAG Challenge Arena.
But activities don't stop there - with the plans also revealing that Crazi Bugz, off-road explorers and laser combat could feature.
The Scottish Borders village is also likely to have between 10 and 14 different restaurant and bar experiences.
Whilst McKinlay expressed this hasn't been finalised yet, he did share that they will have areas "promoting the nuances of Scottish food".
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Plans show a Pancake House and cafe are already proposed for the village.
"We're hoping for a determination of that planning application by the end of the calendar year, hopefully," he stated.
"I would be very hopeful to be able to open in spring, summer of 2029 - which means that we would aim to go on sale probably nine months prior to that."
In regard to the rest of the UK, the CEO added: "I wouldn't rule out other Center Parcs in other locations in the UK.
"I believe there are opportunities beyond that [Scotland], probably elsewhere in England - possibly in the south east."
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A number of new initiatives are being rolled out across the UK too, from premium restaurants to new leisure activities such as a forest gliding experience.
The holiday company is also celebrating the highest ever guest satisfaction scores in the past 12 months, in its 38-year history.
The Scottish Borders Center Parcs project is expected to cost between £350 and £400million.
In total, it is anticipated the new village will also create 1,200 permanent jobs and attract more than 350,000 visitors each year.
CENTER Parcs has opened a new treetop experience at one of their holiday parks in the UK - the first of its kind for the resort.
Opening at Longleat on July 1, Adventure Nets allows families to "bounce, balance, leap and climb through the stunning redwood canopy", according to Center Parcs.
The attraction features a number of treehouses that are connected by suspended nets, seven metres in the air.
Visitors can crawl through tunnels, cross rope bridges and enjoy a trampoline area at the attraction too.
Families on the course can also use TAG Active technology which allows guests to 'tag' beacons around the course and play TAG games such as treasure hunts in their hour-session.
There is also a new European Center Parcs resort that is quiet in August – and much cheaper than in the UK.
Plus, the first look at Center Parcs' plans for new UK resort in Scotland.
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