Latest news with #ColinMcKinlay
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Center Parcs boss reveals what to expect from brand new holiday park in the UK – and future village locations
A NEW Center Parcs will be opening in Scotland in 2029 - with the holiday park boss revealing plans for even more resorts. 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. Advertisement 6 A new Center Parcs will be opening in Scotland in 2029 and is expected to have over 100 activities on offer Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs 6 The site will be located in the Scottish Borders, north of Hawick and will feature 700 lodges Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs 6 The brand's iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Forest Spa will be at the village too Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs 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 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, Unlike other UK villages that have lakes, the Scottish site will have two lochs. Advertisement Read more on travel inspo 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 " Nice and gentle but Setting the Scottish village apart from other villages in the UK, there will also be a Heritage Centre. Advertisement Most read in News Travel "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 winter . Advertisement 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". Advertisement 6 Unlike other UK villages that have lakes, the Scottish site will have two lochs Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs 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." Advertisement 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." 6 The Scottish village will also have a Heritage Centre - unique to the site Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs 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. Advertisement 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 launches first-ever new adventure attraction 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. Advertisement Plus, the 6 Center Parcs hopes to have a result from the planning application by the end of the year Credit: Supplied / Center Parcs
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Center Parcs boss reveals what to expect from brand new holiday park in the UK – and future village locations
A NEW Center Parcs will be opening in Scotland in 2029 - with the holiday park boss revealing plans for even more resorts. 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. 6 6 6 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". 6 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." 6 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. 6
The National
09-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Center Parcs Hawick village will 'transform' area, says chief
Center Parcs Longford Forest, Ireland's first Center Parcs resort, has significantly revitalised the local landscape and economy since its opening in 2019. The €233 million development, situated in Newcastle Wood near Ballymahon, has boosted tourism and created one thousand permanent jobs. It's a pattern which is about to be repeated if planning approval is granted for a new £400m holiday village earmarked for Huntlaw Farm just off the A7, north of Hawick and south of Selkirk. READ MORE: 'I'm so sorry': Yungblud cancels Scottish show and album launch It is anticipated that the development would boost the Borders economy to the tune of almost £9m a year. The leisure resort, first announced last November, would result in a 55 per cent increase to hospitality accommodation, with 356,700 annual overnight visitors, more than the total for the Borders as a whole in 2023. There would be a 196,200 increase in annual day visitors to the wider Borders area, each spending an average of £45, or £8.8m in total. A formal planning application was this week submitted to Scottish Borders Council. Center Parcs chief executive Colin McKinlay said: 'We're incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to engage with us. 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. 'This is an exciting opportunity – not just for Center Parcs but for the Scottish Borders. As we witnessed when we opened our newest location in Longford in Ireland in 2019, a new village has the potential to transform local tourism, create year-round employment and bring a significant boost to the regional economy. 'Center Parcs continues to be a hugely popular destination for families across the UK and Ireland. With many families in Scotland already travelling to our existing villages in England, a Scottish location would allow them to enjoy a premium holiday experience closer to home – while supporting jobs, businesses and tourism in the region.' The planning application will now be considered by Scottish Borders Council in the coming months, with members of the public able to submit comments via the council's online planning portal. If approved, the new village would feature around 700 lodges and apartments set in newly created woodland, the iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a village centre with shops and restaurants, and the signature Aqua Sana Forest Spa – a tranquil retreat nestled in a natural setting. Other key features of the proposal include two newly created lochs designed for water sports and recreation, a combined Nature and Heritage Centre with an adjacent restaurant and coffee shop, wildflower meadows, nature trails, and wetlands to promote biodiversity as well as a wide range of outdoor activities, integrated sympathetically into the landscape. READ MORE: BBC host takes issue with legal expert labelling Israel's plans 'concentration camps' In addition, Center Parcs plans to plant a forest at the proposed site, in a new approach for the business. Typically, Center Parcs builds its villages in commercial woodlands, improving biodiversity through careful forest management. The proposed site is predominantly open grassland and Center Parcs would plant thousands of native species to create a diverse and thriving woodland. If given the go ahead, the development is expected to support between 750 and 800 jobs during the construction phase and create approximately 1200 permanent roles once operational, the majority of which will be filled by local people. Center Parcs offers long-term career opportunities across a range of sectors, including hospitality, retail and village management.
Metro
09-07-2025
- Metro
Center Parcs reveals new pictures of £400,000,000 UK holiday village
Center Parcs fans have been given an extra glimpse of what the brand new holiday park will look like when it opens in 2029. A new video takes us on a virtual tour of the site, featuring familiar amenities, such as waterside lodges, the Aqua Sana Forest Spa, Sports Plaza, and the Subtropical Swimming Paradise. Plans for the new park – the first in Scotland – were first unveiled back in November. Initial zoning blueprints show the scale of the project, including 700 self-catering lodges designed for family stays. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Center Parcs is the UK's most visited holiday park, known for its woodland setting, huge variety of activities, and signature rapids. Here's what we know about the new Scotland Center Parcs so far. Frequent guests of Center Parcs will see that the new park has everything you'd expect from one of their villages. The Subtropical Swimming Paradise is adorned with foliage, a transparent greenhouse-like ceiling, and features both indoor and outdoor pools and waterways. There's also a children's play area, with a small slide and lots of places to splash around in. Images also reveal that this village too will have a Pancake House – a much-loved family-friendly dining option – although we're yet to see if there will also be a Treats (the confectionery shop) or on-site Cafe Rouge or Huck's American Bar and Grill. Unsurprisingly, this site also has some of the newer features, not in place at all Center Parcs forests. For example, there'll be Waterside Lodges, which are currently only available to book at Elveden Forest, Suffolk. These two-storey detached lodges feature a wooden deck and balconies for views over the 'loch', which has a sandy beach. The Aqua Sana Forest Spa is also featured, and while few details have been revealed, it's speculated that the Scottish spa will offer state-of-the-art features, billed as a 'tranquil retreat nestled in a natural setting.' For example, at the Aqua Sana Forest Spa in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, there's a treetop sauna, not currently available at any other village's spa. Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said: 'This is an exciting opportunity – not just for Center Parcs but for the Scottish Borders. 'As we witnessed when we opened our newest location in Longford in Ireland in 2019, a new village has the potential to transform local tourism, create year-round employment and bring a significant boost to the regional economy.' He added that Center Parcs locations are already a popular retreat for families in Scotland, and that a new location would provide a 'premium holiday experience closer to home.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The first ever in Scotland, the new park will be in the Scottish Borders, north of Hawick and south of Selkirk – around a 90-minute drive from Edinburgh and Newcastle, or two hours from Glasgow. In a previous statement, the firm praised the 'picturesque location' for its 'rolling hills and open countryside providing stunning scenery at every turn.' The village, which is expected to cost between £350 and £400 million, will be able to accommodate 3,500 guests at a time. Although Center Parcs has yet to reveal a specific opening date, McKinlay said it is expected be some time in 2029. Center Parcs previously claimed the new site was necessary as its 'existing villages are pretty much full all year round and we feel there is strong demand for another Center Parcs in the UK.' There are currently five Center Parcs in the UK: Whinfell Forest, Sherwood Forest, Longleat Forest, Elveden Forest, Woburn Forest. There's also one village in Ireland: Longford Forest. Each of these villages was developed in existing woodlands and forests, but this time, Center Parcs will be planting its own, in a process known as afforestation. More Trending 'Thousands of trees' will be planted on the site – which is 'currently mostly open grassland' – to create a brand new woodland, in what the company calls 'a bold, new approach'. The plan also prioritises heritage and environmental significance, with additions like wetlands, meadows, and lochs, as well as improved screening to protect neighbouring properties and natural beauty. Metro's Lifestyle Editor, Kristina Beanland, shares her memories of growing up going to the restorts. I've been going to Center Parcs with my family since I was in primary school. As a child, I signed up to some weird and wonderful activities: from street dance (picture the instructor as an older Raygun) to an oft-regretted two days making a music video to Madness' Baggy Trousers (I was about nine at the time, and was more of an S Club fan). There was also a few bizarre years when I was big into circus skills. I'm still yet to find a real-world use for my diablo practice. As I got older, I was lucky enough to call Center Parcs my retreat amid GCSE and A-Level stress. A place to revise among the quiet, before throwing myself head first down the rapids for some light relief. Mind you, whatever my age, cycling up the hills (particularly those in Longleat Forest) has become no easier – to the point where I've now ditched the two wheels for two feet instead. I've celebrated some pretty important milestones in a Center Parcs village: the final episode of Friends, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, to name just a few. I've visited the village up in Cumbria, the one down in Bedford, and all the others in between – meaning I've been to every single one in the UK (although I haven't ticked the Irish site off my list). The village in Woburn is small and compact, and less than an hour away from London, but my favourite is probably Elveden, with its huge lake (try cable water skiing) and award-winning water ride, the Tropical Cyclone. I only have happy memories (apart from that one time my mum tore her Achilles during an ill-fated game of badminton, but that's a story for another day), and now the visits are less frequent, but still just as fun. Circus skills have been swapped for spa days, and I've been drunk on a bike on more occasions that I care to admit here. Now, we're joined by my young niblings – a new generation of my family is becoming equally as obsessed with Treats (iykyk) as I am. Center Parcs is far from a budget holiday, but it's worth saving up for – I can't wait to go back. This article was first published on November 6, 2024. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Fact check: Could a new European sleeper train be as cheap as a budget airline flight? MORE: Europe's 'chocolate capital' is only a £33 bus ride from the UK MORE: 'I spent a fortune building dream home but now the council won't let me live in it'
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major update on plans for huge new Center Parcs resort with waterside lodges & subtropical swimming pool in Scotland
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR update on the plans for a huge new Center Parcs resort in Scotland has been revealed. Bosses at the holiday company announced today they have submitted a planning application for the development to the Scottish Borders Council. 5 An update on the plans for a huge new Center Parcs resort in Scotland has been revealed Credit: Center Parcs 5 The tourism giant plans to open the exciting new location by early 2029 Credit: Center Parcs 5 The plans feature waterslide lodges and a subtropical swimming pool Credit: Center Parcs The proposed site will include a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, retail outlets, bars, restaurants, and signature swimming and spa attractions. If approved, the Scottish village will also feature around 700 lodges. The total investment is estimated at between £350million and £400million. The submission of the planning application follows eight months of public consultation - including four statutory consultation events in Lilliesleaf, Denholm, Selkirk and Hawick. More than 1,000 members of the public engaged with Center Parcs representatives, providing feedback that has directly shaped and refined the final design proposals. Colin McKinlay, Chief Executive of Center Parcs, said: "We're thrilled to submit our planning application for our proposed Center Parcs village in Scotland. "Since unveiling our initial plans in November, it's been a busy and rewarding eight months of consultation. "We've listened carefully to feedback from local communities and stakeholders and have worked hard to shape a proposal that is both ambitious and sensitive to its surroundings. "We're incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to engage with us. "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 new Center Parcs holiday resort that has opened in Europe "With many families in Scotland already travelling to our existing villages in England, a Scottish location would allow them to enjoy a premium holiday experience closer to home – while supporting jobs, businesses and tourism in the region." Center Parcs previously gave holidaymakers a glimpse into its Scottish resort plans - complete with waterside lodges and a subtropical swimming pool. The tourism giant plans to open the exciting new location by early 2029. And a fly-through video of the holiday village gives the public a first look at what it could become. 5 The planning application will now be considered by Scottish Borders Council in the coming months Credit: Center Parcs 5 The site lies three miles north of Hawick, Roxburghshire Credit: Center Parcs The footage takes viewers on a virtual tour of the site, three miles north of Hawick, Roxburghshire, featuring waterside lodges, apartments and lochs. There's also an Aqua Sana Forest Spa, a 'subtropical swimming paradise', sports plaza, and the planned Nature and Heritage Centre. If given the go ahead, the development is expected to support between 750 and 800 jobs during the construction phase and create approximately 1,200 permanent roles once operational. The planning application will now be considered by Scottish Borders Council in the coming months, with members of the public able to submit comments via the council's online planning portal. The planning application can be viewed on the Scottish Borders Council website here.
