domestic holiday market

A NEW CENTER PARCS BREAKS GROUND

Posted on May 5, 2026

£450 million village to create 1,200 jobs, new forest, and a landmark destination...

Work has officially begun on Center Parcs’ £450 million Scottish Borders development, marking a major milestone for one of the UK holiday park sector’s most significant upcoming investments. The project, located between Hawick and Selkirk, was formally launched with a ceremonial tree planting attended by John Swinney, alongside local schoolchildren and Center Parcs CEO Colin McKinlay.

The new village is expected to create around 1,200 jobs and contribute £75 million annually to the regional economy, underlining the growing role of large-scale leisure developments in driving rural growth. The Scottish Government has also committed up to £30 million in infrastructure funding to support the scheme.

A defining feature of the project is the creation of an entirely new forest— marking the first time Center Parcs has established woodland from scratch. Hundreds of thousands of trees will be planted, with more than 30 species, forming the natural environment that underpins the brand’s short-break offering.

SCHOOL CHILDREN HELP KICKSTART the creation of Center Parcs Scottish Borders’ brand- new forest, by planting the very first saplings.

For operators, the development highlights the increasing importance of environmental integration and long-term sustainability in new park schemes. Alongside up to 700 lodges, plans include signature Center Parcs amenities such as the Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Forest Spa, as well as nature-led features including wetlands, wildflower meadows and activity trails.

The scheme also reflects a broader trend towards destination-led experiences, with two new lochs, a nature and heritage centre, and a strong emphasis on outdoor recreation designed to diversify appeal and extend dwell time.

Industry stakeholders have welcomed the investment, with regional development agency South of Scotland Enterprise highlighting the potential for supply chain opportunities and SME growth. Set to open in 2029, the Scottish Borders village will be Center Parcs’ first new UK development since 2019— offering a clear signal of confidence in the long-term strength of the domestic holiday market.

For more information log on to: www.centerparcsscotland.co.uk

THE NEW VILLAGE WILL FEATURE Woodland, lochs, meadows, and nature trails, blending recreation with biodiversity.

PARK HOLIDAYS UK FLEX MUSCLE

Posted on August 2, 2022

PARK HOLIDAYS UK FLEX MUSCLE

PARK HOLIDAYS UK takes its portfolio to 54 locations with the acquisition of Park Leisure.

 

Park Holidays UK has confirmed its acquisition of holiday parks group Park Leisure which owns 11 holiday parks in popular locations in England, Scotland and North Wales. It will bring to 54 the number of parks now operated by Park Holidays UK – and follows the company’s acquisition of nine parks from Bridge Leisure in 2021. The enlarged portfolio, says the group, will provide it with an even stronger national platform from which to serve Britain’s fast-growing domestic holiday market.

Park Holidays UK director Tony Clish said the coming together of the two well-established groups presented exciting new opportunities in one of tourism’s most dynamic sectors: “Both companies have invested substantially in their parks over recent years and created a range of high-quality holiday products which people clearly enjoy,” he said. “Park Leisure’s 11 parks have all gained top five-star tourist board awards and represent the high-quality standards we have been working towards in recent years.

 

“Whether customers are looking to rent or buy a holiday home, we can now offer a wide geographical spread of parks able to deliver a first-class experience at an affordable cost. “We will continue to invest in all of our parks to ensure that that their facilities and standards of service are maintained to the highest possible levels,” said Mr Clish. “The domestic holiday market continues to gain traction in the post-Brexit and post-pandemic market, and we are continuing to see an ever-increasing demand for UK holidays.

“Quality is the main driver of bookings and holiday home sales, and this union will consolidate some of the finest holiday parks in the UK into one single group,” said Mr Clish. Parks in both groups provide extensive leisure facilities and family entertainment, together with carefully managed landscaped grounds in which holiday lodges and caravans are located. Park Holidays UK was formed over 35 years ago, and its parks today span the length of Britain from Cornwall in the west to Moray in northern Scotland. Park Leisure has operated holidays parks for more than 20 years, and has a presence in Cornwall, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Northumberland, Yorkshire and North Wales.

NEW OWNERS FOR PARK HOLIDAYS UK

Posted on April 27, 2022

NEW OWNERS FOR PARK HOLIDAYS UK

One of Britain’s largest holiday park groups, Park Holidays UK, has been acquired by US real estate investment trust Sun Communities, Inc. (“Sun”). The £950 million acquisition was agreed in November 2021 and closed this month (April) following approval from the Financial Conduct Authority. Sun’s support will enable Park Holidays UK, which currently owns and manages 42 parks in Britain, to continue to invest in its existing high-quality holiday centres and to further expand its parks portfolio.

Sun is one of the largest owners and operators of manufactured housing, recreational vehicle and marina properties, and says that Park Holidays UK’s business model is a perfect complement to its own. Park Holidays UK Director Tony Clish said the acquisition will trigger an exciting new period of growth for the company: “The domestic holiday market continues to gain traction in the post-Brexit and post-pandemic environment, and we are seeing an ever-increasing demand for UK holidays,” he said.

“This partnership with Sun will bolster our ability to acquire new parks, and to continue driving up quality standards by making additional investment in our existing parks. “Our two companies share precisely the same values in terms of delivering an exceptional experience to customers at realistic value-for-money prices. “We both recognise that quality and value are the main drivers of holiday bookings and holiday home sales and are determined that this will remain our prime competitive edge,” he added.