Center parcs community open day on tuesday

Center Parcs has announced this week that ahead of its hoped-for 2019 opening date, it is holding a community open day in Ballymahon this Tuesday.

The open day is part of the firm's community engagement programme in support of its proposed plans to develop a €200m holiday village in Newcastle Wood, five kilometres from Ballymahon in County Longford.

The community day is in Ballymahon Library from 1.30pm to 5pm, and will be open to all local residents and community groups with an interest in the project. 

The event will be hosted by Martin Dalby, CEO of Center Parcs, along with senior company representatives and will update residents on how Center Parcs’ proposed plans for the site are progressing ahead of submitting a planning application later this year

Speaking about the upcoming community day, Martin Dalby, CEO of Center Parcs, said: 

“Our recent community day in May was a resounding success with over 600 people from Ballymahon and surrounding areas dropping by to meet our team and hear about our company and what we could bring to the area and region.  Our upcoming community day in August is an informal gathering to update local residents and groups on how our plans are taking shape and to hear their views.”

Detailed information on the specifics of the planning application will be available later in the year.  Specific open days for recruitment and supplier opportunities will be undertaken at a later stage in the project. 

Center Parcs is a leader in the UK family short break market.  The proposed development in Newcastle Wood will create approximately 750 jobs during construction. 

Once open and operational, the holiday village would have capacity for up to 2,500 guests and employ up to 1,000 people in permanent jobs, with the majority of employees likely to live locally.  Center Parcs estimates that, when operational, the new holiday village would add approximately €32 million to Irish GDP per annum.

Subject to receiving satisfactory planning permission, the new Center Parcs Village in Newcastle Wood is expected to open to guests in 2019.

Center Parcs offers high quality short breaks in a secluded and natural woodland setting. The proposed new development will bring together the high quality features for which Center Parcs is renowned, including up to 500 lodges, designed with families and the environment in mind, more than 100 indoor and outdoor activities, a spa, a range of restaurants and cafés and the iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise, with water rides and fun for all ages.

Over the last 28 years, Center Parcs has exhibited a proven track record of taking commercial woodlands and, through careful forest management, transforming them into areas rich in biodiversity.