Huge boost as An Bord Pleanala approves €100m Center Parcs Longford Forest expansion

Longford is poised for a huge jobs boost as An Bord Pleanála has approved the plans by Center Parcs Longford Forest to embark on a massive €100m expansion of their Irish holiday village.

Longford County Council was officially informed of An Bord Pleanála's decision on the protracted planning appeal last Friday, November 24. 

This latest investment by Center Parcs in its Ballymahon operation will see the creation of 300 jobs during construction and 250 permanent jobs once operational.

And the spin off for the local economy will be immense, with the use of local hospitality during construction and opportunities for local suppliers, consultants and contractors. 

Center Parcs Longford Forest initially applied to the planning department of the local authority in August of 2022 for permission to develop 198 new lodges located in three zones. 

The expansion also covers external sauna or pods associated with specific lodges, coffee shop, lakeside restaurant, energy centre, staff welfare and storage building.

Longford County Council planners granted permission for the development on September 27, 2022 with twenty conditions attached and this decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála. 

An Bord Pleanála had indicated that their deliberations on the appeal should be concluded by March 2, 2023 and there was much frustration locally as the situation dragged on for eight additional months before a decision was ultimately arrived at.

Details of the expansion

extension to the existing development within the existing 160 hectare Centre Parcs Longford Forest Holiday Village. The development will consist of:

I) 198 no. new lodges located in 3 no. zones (comprising of 56 no. 2 bedroom lodges, 105 no. 3 bedroom lodges, 32 no. 4 bedroom lodges, 1 no. 5 bedroom lodge, 4 no. 6 bedroom lodges),

ii) External sauna/Pods associated with specific lodges (151m2),

iii) coffee shop (282m2),

iv) lakeside restaurant (902m2),

v) energy centre (235m2),

vi) staff welfare and storage building (611m2),

vii) 2 no. remote housekeeping stores (35m2 each),

viii) extensions and alterations to existing commercial retail and leisure buildings, including: a) extension to housekeeping/technical services (HKTS) building (157m2) to provide increased storage, b) extension to existing Aqua Sauna spa facility (453m2) to include new treatment rooms and treetop sauna, c) extension to existing Sub-Tropical Swimming Paradise (STSP) including a new pool (875m2), d) extension to existing Sports Hall (735m2),

ix) extensions to existing Village Centre restaurants: a) Huck's restaurant (128m2), b) Cara's restaurant (105m2), c) Sports Café restaurant (104m2) and d) Bella Italia restaurant (222m2 - internal extension only),

x) installation of Solar PV on the roof of the existing Sports Hall and Sports Café building and on the roof of the proposed Sports Hall extension,

xi) installation of District Heating System within the site,

xii) upgrades to existing Wastewater Treatment Plant and associated infrastructure,

xiii) new car park to provide 313 no. car parking spaces for staff,

xiv) provision of electrical vehicle charging points,

xv) provision of new cycle parking within the site,

xvi) associated civil infrastructure works including all internal roads, hardstanding and all foul and surface water drainage works,

xvii) creation of landscape screening bunds,

xviii) erection of security perimeter fencing,

xix) all new landscaping and hard landscaping,

xx) all ancillary and associated site works.