Work is officially underway at the new £450 million Center Parcs site in Scotland.
First Minister John Swinney planted the first of hundreds of thousands of trees at Center Parcs’s Scottish Borders village on 18 March.
The new village between Hawick and Selkirk is expected to create around 1,200 jobs and contribute £75 million annually to the local economy.
Planning permission for the development was granted by the Scottish Borders Council in December over approximately 1,000 acres of land.
According to Center Parcs, the woodland will “mature over the coming decades”, delivering long-term environmental and biodiversity benefits.
At the milestone event, the First Minister confirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide up to £30 million for essential infrastructure at the resort.
First Minister John Swinney said: “Economic growth must reach the people and places that need it most. Investing in the South of Scotland through this project is a direct expression of our belief that every part of Scotland deserves to benefit from a growing economy.
“Investing here is a deliberate statement that we are serious about reducing regional inequality and creating genuine opportunity for young people - 30% of these 1,200 jobs are targeted at 16-to-24-year-olds.”
He added: “It is a privilege to be here with local school children to start planting new trees for the site and I look forward to seeing the development of the project before the resort opens in 2029.”
Center Parcs Scottish Borders will feature up to 700 lodges and apartments, a swimming paradise, a village centre with shops and restaurants and an Aqua Sana Forest Spa.
Two newly created lochs will host water sports and recreation, with wildflower meadows and nature trails also integrated into the landscape.
More than 30 species of trees and plants grown in Scotland will be planted during the main development phase.
The new village is scheduled to open in 2029.
Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said: “This marks another momentous milestone in the creation of Center Parcs Scottish Borders and it is fantastic that the First Minister and local schoolchildren were able to join us as we begin work on site.
McKinlay added: “We are very grateful for the support of the Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council, South of Scotland Enterprise and many other partners who have worked with us to unlock the potential of this project and it is incredibly exciting to see work at the site now getting underway.”
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