Center Parcs today unveiled a full preview of the proposed plans for its sixth village, Center Parcs Longford Forest in Ireland.

The €200m development will be located on a 375 acre site at Newcastle Wood, five kilometres from Ballymahon in County Longford.

The holiday village will create approximately 750 jobs during construction and employ up to 1,000 people in permanent jobs once operational. It is estimated that over the next 20 years, Center Parcs Longford Forest would generate an economic uplift of €1 billion for Irish economy.

As the leader in the UK short break holiday market, Center Parcs regularly achieves average annual occupancy in excess of 97%.

A detailed masterplan, scale models of the lodges and the centre buildings – including the Subtropical Swimming Paradise – and artist’s impressions of various aspects of the village were shared with the local community and residents. This is the final in a series of community engagement days hosted by Center Parcs before the planning application is submitted in the autumn.

Speaking at the unveiling of the proposed plan in Ballymahon, Center Parcs CEO Martin Dalby, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our plan to bring Center Parcs to Ireland.Center Parcs Longford Forest will have a significant impact on the local and regional economy, bringing 1,750 jobs and a €1billion injection into the economy over a 20 year period.

We have over 28 years’ experience in developing and operating market leading holiday villages throughout the UK, and we are excited about the prospect of bringing our award winning short break offering to Irish families. As we get one step closer to applying for planning permission, our focus today is to continue our dialogue with the community, share our plans and listen to people’s views.”

Center Parcs operates five short break destinations in the UK: Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire; Elveden Forest, Suffolk; Longleat Forest, Wiltshire; Whinfell Forest, Cumbria and Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire. Each Center Parcs is nestled within approximately 400 acres of protected and enhanced woodland, with the village designed to complement and work with the forest environment.