PLANS have been submitted for creating the largest holiday park in the Borders.

Middlesex-based Sandy Lane Resorts Limited wants to erect 180 holiday lodges at Rutherford Castle near West Linton.

The company’s full planning application also includes a retail village, swimming pool, bar, restaurant and function room, as well as the creation of ponds and the re-opening of the site’s former golf course.

A pre-application notice was submitted last year and the company held a series of consultation events in and around West Linton.

Initial plans, which also included 192 touring pitches, 20 glamping pods, 15 tree houses and a bowling alley, have been scaled back.

A spokesman for the company said: “This reduction involved the removal of all forms of accommodation other than lodges, and reduced the total number to 180 lodges.

“In addition, the village centre was drastically reduced in size, being reduced from three buildings of approximately 7,460 square metres to one building of approximately 2,865 square metres.

“This involved the loss of some facilities within the village centre including hot food takeaways, bowling alley and cinema.

“The scale of the pub/restaurant provision has also been scaled back.”

The full planning application will be considered by Scottish Borders Council over the coming months.

The developer hopes to start construction work in September with an opening date of late 2020.