Center Parcs to lodge €85m expansion plan in July
Center Parcs is aiming to lodge a planning application for an €85m expansion of its forest holiday village near Ballymahon this July, it's been revealed, which it says will create another 250 jobs once operational.
At a community consultation event in the town on Monday, the UK-based holiday company updated locals on the proposed extension of the Longford Forest facilities which is already several months behind schedule after it admitted in January, that the design and site survey works were taking longer than expected.
Initially, when the expansion announcement was made back in June of last year, Center Parcs had hoped to have the plans lodged with Longford County Council by the end of 2021, and pending planning, it could begin work in 2023. That's likely to be much further down the tracks now.
In all, it would see an extra 198 new holiday lodges developed at the site in Newcastle Woods, including four luxury treehouses, a six-bedroom woodland lodge and a new children’s lodge, the event this week was told. All of the new lodges will be supplied with heating and hot water via a district heating system.
CMG Body: In addition, extensions to the hugely popular Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana spa form another major element of the plans, and the latter includes a new treetop sauna and additional treatment rooms.
CMG Body: A new coffee house and new restaurant are also on the cards as part of what Center Parcs said is an extension of leisure and food and beverage facilities to accommodate more guests.
CMG Body: Center Parcs Longford Forest currently has 466 lodges and 30 apartments, with a capacity for up to 2,500 guests per break covering over 400 acres of woodland. The UK firm previously confirmed that the planned expansion proposed would bring that capacity up to 3,500 when it is full.
New photovoltaic or solar panels will also be installed across the village as part of the expansion project, and the company is committed to continuing to source green energy to power the holiday park. There will also be improvements to staff areas at the forest site.
All development will be within the boundary of the existing site, the community event was also told, and it's estimated that 300 jobs would be created during the construction phase, should it progress through the planning process.
With over 90% occupancy, Center Parcs stated this week it is seeing “strong forward booking” in line with their UK villages, and it currently has “around 1,200 roles” in Ballymahon - with 66% of the workers living in Co Longford and a further 32% living in one of the bordering counties.
The company also said it is looking to increase its Irish suppliers, both local and national, and there will be opportunities for local hospitality, local suppliers, consultants and contractors during the building phase of the expansion project.
Only opened in July of 2019, and despite several pandemic closures since then, the €233 million holiday village has been declared a huge success by management who surprised many by announcing the expansion project so quickly after opening last year.