For centuries, the small Scottish town of Hawick built its prosperity upon its globally renowned textile mills. Yet this historic Borders settlement has now dramatically emerged as the United Kingdom's foremost property hotspot, a transformation that has little to do with its traditional tweed or cashmere industries.
A Remarkable Reversal in the Housing Market
Fresh research reveals that over the last twelve months, residential property prices in Hawick have escalated by nearly one-fifth, outpacing growth in every other region across Britain. This surge starkly contrasts with the broader national trend, where average asking prices actually declined by 0.6 percent between January 2025 and January 2026, according to data from the property portal Rightmove.
The Centre Parcs Catalyst
Local property specialists pinpoint a pivotal reason for this boom: the imminent arrival of Centre Parcs. Last summer, the holiday resort operator confirmed plans to establish its inaugural Scottish location just outside Hawick. This announcement is believed to have ignited substantial demand for homes in the vicinity, triggering a sharp and sustained increase in values.
Tony Elliot, Managing Director of the long-established Hawick estate agency Bannerman Burke Properties, elaborated on the impact. "Centre Parcs has been a huge boon for the local economy and for property prices," he stated. "Over the past six months, since Center Parcs was announced, more and more people have been buying here - and prices have been rising."
Scheduled to open in 2029, the new flagship forest village development between Hawick and Selkirk is projected to create 1,200 permanent jobs. The resort will feature approximately 700 lodges, complemented by amenities including a water-park, multiple restaurants, and a forest spa.
National Context and Regional Standouts
The Rightmove figures paint a varied picture of the UK housing landscape. While prices in the South East of England fell by 1.6 percent annually, London experienced a modest 0.9 percent increase. Hawick's remarkable 18 percent rise now places the local average property price at £148,633.
Other areas also demonstrated strong growth, forming a national top ten of property hotspots:
- Durham in North East England ranked second, with a 15 percent annual rise lifting average prices to £251,339.
- Stannington, a Sheffield suburb in South Yorkshire, took third place. A 13 percent jump pushed average values to £264,078.
- Johnstone in Renfrewshire also featured, with an 11 percent increase resulting in an average price of £156,107.
- Orkney secured a spot too, where prices reached £215,546 following a 9 percent rise.
Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, analysed the broader trend. "House price growth across the UK was a mixed picture in 2025, with more affordable areas generally seeing stronger house price growth than pricier regions," she explained. "There is typically a larger pool of buyers looking to move within more affordable price brackets. As a result, locations with more homes priced below the average asking price often see higher demand, which supports stronger house price growth."
Beyond the Resort: Hawick's Enduring Appeal
While the Centre Parcs development is a major driver, Mr. Elliot emphasised that Hawick possesses numerous other attractions contributing to its desirability. "The flood defences have been completed along the riverside and the town is now looking at its best. There are lovely parks and it's surrounded by beautiful countryside," he noted.
The town's strategic location is another significant factor. "The town is slap-bang in the middle between Edinburgh, Newcastle and Carlisle," Elliot added. "If you look at houses any closer to any of the cities, prices become more expensive. Traditionally, property prices here have always been quite generous. You've always been able to get a lot more floorspace for your money."
A Shift in Living and Working Patterns
Evolving work habits are also playing a crucial role in Hawick's property renaissance. With many professionals now requiring only a weekly or bi-weekly commute to major urban centres, the appeal of rural living with greater space has intensified.
"People can sell a two-bed flat in Edinburgh and buy a three or four bedroom detached property in the country near here for the same price or cheaper," Mr. Elliot observed. "That gives them 'his and hers' office space and a bit of garden to go with it. For people working from home, it's a no-brainer."
This represents a profound shift for Hawick, which was historically a major centre for textile manufacturing from the late 18th through the 19th centuries. By the 1930s, over 1,200 people were employed in the town's knitwear production, home to iconic brands such as Pringle of Scotland and Lyle & Scott. Today, the town is weaving a new economic and residential fabric, firmly establishing itself as the UK's premier property destination.
