Center Parcs to develop fifth holiday village, in Woburn Forest
Center Parcs is to develop its fifth holiday village in the UK at a cost of £250m, within Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire.
The completion of all the necessary planning consents will allow work to begin in the next few weeks on the site's construction, with a planned opening scheduled for spring 2014.
Center Parcs Woburn Forest - which will include a 75-bedroom hotel, 625 forest lodges, spa, restaurants, two indoor sports centres, swimming pool, and outdoor sports facilities - will create 1,500 jobs once the village is open.
The Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the growth of Center Parcs as good news for holiday makers and the economy. "This expansion and the jobs that it brings will be a real boost to growth and a sign of the increasing investor confidence that there is too."
Center Parcs, which launched in the UK 25 years ago, recorded 95% occupancy rates in 2011.
Martin Dalby, chief executive of Center Parcs, said: "As we begin construction at Woburn and continue our investment programme in the existing villages, I am confident we can continue to deliver both a first class experience for our guests and continue our track record of profitable growth."
The £250m cost of Center Parcs Woburn Forest will be provided through £100m investment funds managed by Center Parcs' owner, Blackstone, and a £150m construction loan from the UK's four leading banks, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group. Earlier this week Center Parcs completed a £1b group refinancing secured against the existing four sites - Whinfell Forest in Cumbria, Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk and Longleat Forest in Wiltshire.
Center Parcs invests £200,000 in Sherwood Forest conference space >>
Bella Italia and Café Rouge owner Tragus signs deal with Center Parcs >>
Center Parcs refused fifth site >>
By Janet Harmer
E-mail your comments to Janet Harmer here.
Catererandhotelkeeper.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next job here with Catererandhotelkeeper.com jobs
