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The Nottinghamshire-based leisure giant Center Parcs has unveiled a transformative £350 to £400 million holiday village plan for the Scottish Borders, while closer to home, a former care home in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, is set to become a vital mental health facility. Announced on 8 July 2025, these developments highlight the region’s role as a hub of innovative community and economic projects. The Center Parcs resort near Hawick promises to redefine Scottish tourism with 1,200 jobs and a new forest, while the sale of Churchfield Care Centre to Cygnet Health Care will address pressing mental health needs. This article explores these initiatives, their local impact, and their shared commitment to enhancing community well-being.
Center Parcs’ Scottish Ambition: A Forest Village Takes Shape
Nestled three miles north of Hawick and south of Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, Center Parcs’ proposed village is a bold £350 to £400 million investment set to reshape regional tourism. Accessible via the A7, just 90 minutes from Edinburgh and two hours from Glasgow, the 400-acre development within a 1,000-acre site will cater to families seeking a premium short-break experience. Unlike the company’s existing resorts in Sherwood Forest, Longleat Forest, Whinfell Forest, Elveden Forest, Woburn Forest, and Longford Forest, the Hawick site starts as open grassland, offering a unique opportunity to create a bespoke woodland by planting thousands of native trees.
The masterplan, refined through eight months of consultation with over 1,000 local residents, includes up to 700 lodges and apartments, from cosy Woodland Lodges to luxurious Treehouses, accommodating 3,500 guests. Signature attractions include the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, an indoor water park with slides, rapids, and pools; the Aqua Sana Forest Spa, a tranquil wellness retreat; and a village centre with shops, restaurants, and bars, featuring favourites like the Pancake House. Outdoor activities such as adventure golf, tree trekking, zip wires, and a Nature and Heritage Centre will immerse guests in the region’s scenic and cultural charm.
Center Parcs’ commitment to community engagement has shaped the project. Four consultation events in Lilliesleaf, Denholm, Selkirk, and Hawick, plus a community open day, gathered feedback to ensure the resort aligns with local priorities. Enhanced screening to protect neighbouring properties and a focus on preserving heritage assets reflect this input. Benny Higgins, executive chairman of the Buccleuch Group, which owns the land, described the project as a “landmark for tourism,” predicting a significant uplift for the Borders’ economy and profile.
Economic and Environmental Impact in Scotland
The Hawick resort is expected to mirror the success of Center Parcs’ Longford Forest in Ireland, which created 1,000 permanent jobs since 2019. Construction will generate 750 to 800 jobs, prioritising regional contractors to boost the local economy. Once operational, the village will sustain 1,200 permanent, year-round roles in hospitality, retail, and management, with a focus on local hiring. A planning statement estimates an annual £8.8 million economic injection, driven by 356,700 overnight visitors—a 55% increase in regional hospitality capacity compared to 2023.
Sustainability is central to the project. By planting thousands of native trees, Center Parcs aims to create a thriving woodland, complemented by wildflower meadows, wetlands, and two recreational lochs to support wildlife like ospreys, red squirrels, and deer. This aligns with the company’s 17-year Biodiversity Benchmark from The Wildlife Trusts, earned through careful forest management at existing sites. Wheelchair and pushchair friendly paths, accessible accommodations, and energy efficient facilities ensure inclusivity and environmental responsibility. A 3D flythrough and models, released in May 2025, showcase waterside lodges and a Sports Plaza, blending seamlessly with the Borders’ rolling hills.
Nottinghamshire’s Care Transformation: Churchfield’s New Chapter
Closer to Center Parcs’ Nottinghamshire headquarters, the Churchfield Care Centre in Rainworth has been sold to Cygnet Health Care, a national provider operating over 150 services across the UK. The 1.27-acre site, comprising a 1990s purpose-built nursing home and a converted property, offers 56 beds, 22 with en suite facilities. Cygnet plans to reopen the site within 12 months as a complex mental health facility, addressing growing demand for specialised care.
The sale, handled by Christie & Co and led by business agent Sam Fazackerley, attracted significant interest, with multiple offers from care operators eyeing redevelopment for supported living, children’s homes, or specialist services. Fazackerley noted, “The successful sale of Churchfield to Cygnet Health Care will provide much-needed housing, care, and support for people recovering from complex mental health needs.” The undisclosed sale price reflects a broader trend of repurposing closed care homes to meet evolving healthcare demands, with Christie & Co reporting high interest in similar properties nationwide.
A Shared Vision for Community Benefit
Both projects underscore a commitment to community enhancement. The Center Parcs resort responds to Scottish families’ demand for a local holiday destination, reducing travel to English resorts while attracting UK and Irish visitors. Its rejection of a Crawley site in 2023 due to biodiversity concerns highlights its environmental ethos, evident in Hawick’s afforestation plans. Similarly, the Churchfield sale addresses a critical societal need by repurposing a dormant facility to support mental health recovery, aligning with Nottinghamshire’s role as a hub for progressive development.
The Center Parcs project faces regulatory hurdles, with the Scottish Borders Council reviewing the application and public comments open online. Economic pressures, such as high interest rates that stalled Center Parcs’ £4 to £5 billion sale by Brookfield in 2024, may influence financing. If approved, construction will take three years, targeting a 2029 opening. The Churchfield project, with its 12-month timeline, is poised to deliver faster impact, reinforcing Nottinghamshire’s contribution to national healthcare.
Looking Ahead: A Legacy of Transformation
These developments in Scotland and Nottinghamshire reflect a shared ambition to invest in people, places, and sustainability. Whether through a forest resort that redefines Scottish tourism or a new facility supporting mental health recovery, both initiatives demonstrate how regional projects can deliver national impact. With a focus on local collaboration and long-term value, they offer a blueprint for future development that balances economic growth with community care.
