Center Parcs to launch its first village outside of the UK
Activity holiday group Center Parcs is gearing up to launch its first site outside of the UK in 2019.
Center Parcs has gained planning permission for its 395-acre "village" in County Longford, Ireland.
It will have a capacity for up to 2,500 guests and is expected to generate 750 jobs during construction and provide 1,000 permanent jobs once it is operational.
The site will be Center Parcs' sixth "village" development and will contain 470 lodges, 30 apartments and more than 100 indoor and outdoor family activities, including its "Subtropical Swimming Paradise".
The new site will also have a spa complex (Source: Center Parcs)
Canadian investment firm and Canary Wharf owner Brookfield Property Partners bought Center Parcs for a reported £2.4bn last year from its former private equity owners Blackstone.
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The company achieves annual occupancy rates in excess of 97 per cent at its sites in Cumbria, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Wiltshire and its first UK location, Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.
"Today’s announcement marks another significant milestone in the history of Center Parcs," chief executive Martin Dalby said.
"Since we announced our intention to bring the Center Parcs experience to Ireland last year, we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received, both at local and national level.
"We have experienced unrivalled success for almost 30 years in the UK, providing high quality family short breaks and I’m extremely excited by the prospect of taking our fantastic brand to Ireland."