LISTEN: Neighbours have their say on Center Parcs plans for 700-lodge holiday village in the Scottish Borders

Bosses at Center Parcs say they're hopeful their plans for a holiday park in the Scottish Borders will be approved by local councillors before the end of the year.

The 700-lodge development, just off the A7 north of Hawick, would be the biggest of the leisure operator's six sites in the UK and Ireland, and its first in Scotland.

A public meeting in Lilliesleaf last night (Tuesday) heard a Proposal of Application Notice is due to be submitted to Scottish Borders Council at the start of next month - triggering a formal 12-week consultation process.

Around 100 people who live closest to the site were given a chance to quiz developers at the event, hosted by the community council, in the Currie Memorial Hall.

Concerns were raised around the increase in traffic, light pollution and the overall scale of the development.

But many welcomed the £400 million investment.

LISTEN: Click on the link below to hear some of the local reaction from those who attended the event...

The meeting heard a number of detailed surveys of the site have already been carried out to assess its impact on the local environment, and further consultation events are planned in the coming weeks - including a meeting with representatives from 13 neighbouring community councils.

Addressing concerns over the potential increase in traffic, Andrew Munnis - a planning specialist representing the company - revealed its specialist engineering team has already met with Transport Scotland and Scottish Borders Council to discuss whether local roads can cope.

"We've carried out a very detailed due diligence exercise to date," he told Greatest Hits Radio.

"And, on the roads, we will have to submit a very detailed traffic impact assessment which will ultimately have to satisfy both Transport Scotland and Scottish Borders Council's local roads department."

As previously reported, as well as planting thousands of trees, the development being proposed would include "roughly" 14 bars and restaurants, as well as a range of leisure facilities, including an indoor swimming pool and spa.

It would be built on around 400 acres of a 1,000 acre site with a potential opening date in 2028.

In addition to creating 1200 permanent, full-time jobs, it's anticipated it would attract 250,000 visitors a year, and generate around £27million spend in the local economy annually.

Mr Munnis added: "Center Parcs are able to call on data for the likes of Longford (where it has built a village in Ireland) that demonstrates a real game-changer for that town, both in terms of inward investment and the ability now for younger people especially to stay local and get good, not only jobs but, careers within Center Parcs."

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