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Center Parcs announces construction of €100m new development at Longford Forest to begin in September
198 additional lodges, including four luxury Treehouses , new restaurant and facilities to be added
Center Parcs Longford Forest has plans for €100m expansion.
Reporter:
Donal O'Grady
06 Jun 2024 4:06 PM
Center Parcs has today announced that construction on an approved circa €100 million development of Longford Forest will begin in September.
The development includes the addition of 198 lodges, including four of Center Parcs’ most luxurious types of accommodation, Treehouses, increasing the capacity of the resort to approximately 3,500 guests per break.
Existing facilities will be developed, including the addition of a new restaurant, Coffee House and leisure and car park facilities, as well as the extension of Longford Forest’s iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise.
At Aqua Sana, the spa will be expanded to include new treatment rooms and a brand-new luxurious Treetop Sauna, bringing Aqua Sana’s incredible spa experiences to new heights.
A total of 300 jobs will be created during construction, and approximately a further 250 permanent jobs once operational.
Sustainability and protecting the local environment have been at the forefront of the development planning and, as part of the expansion, an air source heat pump-led network will power the new lodges.
Measures will be put in place at all facilities to reduce energy consumption, including the use of high efficiency LED lighting, while new commercial buildings on the village will be powered with electric technologies including solar PV, saving 4,100,000kWh per annum of gas. Low flow outlets will also be utilised throughout the development to reduce water consumption.
Today’s announcement comes just weeks before Center Parcs celebrates five years’ operating in Ireland this July. Since opening, Center Parcs has become a driving force in the growth of Ireland’s domestic tourism market.
In the 12 months between April 2023 and April 2024 alone, Center Parcs Longford Forest generated €58 million for the Irish economy, €23 million in Exchequer revenue and welcomed 260,700 guests.
Locally, the resort has generated €44 million within Co. Longford and created over 1,300 jobs. Of those employed, 60% are from County Longford, and a further 36% reside in neighbouring counties.
Center Parcs UK & Ireland’s CEO, Colin McKinlay, said:
“We are delighted to announce that following several years of planning, we will commence work on our expansion of Longford Forest this autumn. Year on year, we have seen an increase in the number of guests we have welcomed to Longford Forest and many returning families, who have really taken Center Parcs into their hearts.
“Speaking of hearts, at Center Parcs we feel so fortunate to be geographically located at the heart of Ireland and have the ongoing support of the local community. We are thrilled to be able to create even more opportunities for them and boost the local economy further.”
Center Parcs Longford Forest opened in July 2019 to excellent reviews and has consistently seen occupancy rates of 99%, with more than 90% of guests rating their holiday as excellent or good.
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