Center Parcs plans Irish resort

UK leisure park and holiday village provider Center Parcs has submitted a planning application for a new holiday village in Ireland.

Center Parcs Longford Forest in Newcastle Wood, County Longford, will be Center Parcs’ sixth, and the first outside the UK.

The £166 million development will span 395 acres and will feature 470 lodges and 30 apartments, with more than 100 indoor and outdoor activities on offer for families.

The planning application estimates that the site could generate 750 new jobs during the construction stage and as many as 1,000 permanent roles. Features will include the trademark Center Parcs elements of the in-house Aqua Sana spa, a selection of cafés, restaurants and shops and the Subtropical Swimming Paradise expanse of pools.

Center Parcs chief executive Martin Dalby said: “We have many years’ experience of providing high quality family short breaks in the UK and I’m extremely excited by the prospect of bringing our fantastic brand to Ireland."

The planning application forecasts that the development could add £713 million to Ireland’s GDP over a 20 year period. Center Parcs Longford Forest is tentatively scheduled to open in 2019, provided planning permission is granted. The planning application was submitted on October 30 and Longford County Council will consider the proposal during a five-week consultation period.