A NEW byelaw could restrict access to the site of a proposed £400 million Center Parcs holiday village in Scotland, if it’s approved by councillors.
Members of Scottish Borders Council will this week be asked to agree to the company’s request to restrict Scotland’s access laws for its planned village, which is expected to comprise around 700 lodges located three miles north of Hawick.
The development will create approximately 1200 permanent jobs and an additional 750 to 800 during the construction stage, it is claimed.
Modelled on the six existing Center Parcs villages across England and Ireland, the Scottish site will include a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, retail outlets, bars, restaurants, and signature swimming and spa attractions.
When members of Scottish Borders Council meet on Thursday, August 21, they will be recommended to endorse a draft byelaw restricting the right to responsible access to the development site at Huntlaw and Muirfield Farm.
A report to full council concludes that there is an “exceptional case” for the byelaw to be proceeded with.
Central to Center Parcs business model is that the holiday village itself is enclosed and access is carefully controlled for the safety and comfort of both staff and guests.
A report to members states: “Center Parcs Scotland Limited (CP) are seeking to progress a substantial and significant development within the Scottish Borders on land at Huntlaw and Muirfield Farm.
“The proposed development is the creation of a holiday village and, central to their business model, is the fact that the holiday village itself is enclosed and access is carefully controlled for the safety and comfort of both staff and guests.
“A right of responsible access exists across land in Scotland by virtue of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
“There are exemptions to that right of access contained within the act itself which seek to, for example, safeguard privacy around homes.
“The act also contains a provision which enable[s] a local authority to make byelaws which restrict or control the exercise of responsible access rights.
“Center Parcs has requested SBC to exercise this power, submitting that their proposed development constitutes an exceptional case.
“In light of the material presented by Center Parcs, while balancing the duty of the local authority to uphold access rights, this report concludes that an exceptional case does exist and recommends that the council agrees to make a byelaw.”
If the draft byelaw is agreed there will follow a consultation period, to consider whether to seek confirmation of the byelaw from Scottish Ministers.
