Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LOCALS IN LONGFORD are awaiting a Bord Pleanala decision today on whether the construction of a massive holiday resort has been given the green light.
The family resort operator Center Parcs revealed its plans last September, saying that it was planning its first holiday village outside of England in Newcastle Wood.
The €233 million resort is expected to bring over 1,000 jobs to the region. It would create around 750 jobs during the construction phase.
The holiday village would have capacity for up to 2,500 guests.
If approved, it is expected to open in Ballymahon in 2019. The plans show the resort will have 470 lodges, 30 apartments, more than 100 indoor and outdoor activities, a spa, restaurants, cafés and shops and a swimming area with water slides.
Longford County Council will be the first to be notified of today’s decisions, but the soundings are that the holiday village will be given the go ahead.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy said all indications are the plans have been given the green light.
“It’s a no-brainer. It will be a big boost to the village. A 1,000 jobs to the village is significant boost in employment for the region,” he said.
Local councillor Mick Cahill told Shannonside radio that while they can’t preempt today’s decision, it would be a “major gamechanger” for the county.
He said the council would be putting a plan in place to make sure it is ready for the development.
Center Parcs estimates that when operational, the new holiday village would add approximately €32 million to Irish GDP per annum and €1 billion over the next 20 years.
The company operates five short break destinations across the UK: Whinfell Forest, Cumbria; Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire; Elveden Forest, Suffolk; Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire and Longleat Forest, Wiltshire.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Looks great but let’s be honest that blue sky is a bit of an exaggeration
Longford is a kip. People there suffer from small county syndrome (similar to small man syndrome)
Keep up the positivity, James.
With a splattering of chemtrails.
Just heard it’s been rejected! It seems two sets of traffic lights would be needed to make it work!
It would be a good development for the area. It should be noted though that only approximately 50-100 full-time jobs would be created as centre parcs are big fans of zero hour contracts and temporary staff because of the nature of the business. Still it would be a good draw to the often overlooked area.
I was on the beer in Longford a couple of weeks ago. Met some lovely people including the young lord mayor. Might write a song about it.
Great news for the Midlands. It’s been in the pipeline a very long time now. There is literally nothing employment wise in Ballymahon apart from small local shops, pubs and a family run hotel. It will be a huge boost to the area and is very commutable from other Longford and Westmeath towns for employees. Lovely location too by Newcastle woods. I’m sure it will be a huge success.
hopefully it gets the green light before the greed sets it. if successful, it might generate interest for rail spur from Longford as accessibility may be the key to its success.
A couple more of these would be nice
It’s not only Longford that needs this, the whole Ireland needs this too. I would certainly holiday there with my family.
Sure Longford needs it but not a chance id ever go on holiday there. Its pretty dire.
Shawn, the people of Longford won’t miss you.
Ah you’re probably too busy chasing cartoons to go on a holiday.
Always dreamed of a holiday in Longford
Adrian, I will give you a free lift to the border of it, no further.
Is longford on Google maps haha
Great news for the people of Longford.
Something positive happens and there’s always someone with a negative comment. 750 construction jobs, of course it’s temporary any fool would know that, it’s something!! It will help post the local economy to the area and there will be more jobs created. Tourism Is an invisible export and is on the rise
“It would create around 750 jobs during the construction phase.”
No, it won’t. It will create a project which will keep 750 currently employed people in a job for the duration of the project. It will not ‘create’ 750′ construction jobs.
At the end of this project, an extra 250 positions in the labour market will exist. That’s how much this creates.
the term ‘construction phase’ gives you a hint, a massive one, now remove your foot from your mouth and try again :D
i think it says 1000 jobs created, and 750 jobs during the construction. Jobs are always temporary, it never said it was creating careers.
That’s the rub, whilst I think this opportunity is absolutely fantastic, the soundbites are always pumping it up beyond, leading on mass to a huge disconnect with reality, indeed as we saw with motorways whose to say this labour isn’t drawn from outside, like we can’t build houses cause we haven’t the skills as we’re told in other quarters..
For those who think I’m over-reacting, the reason why I take issue with these statements is the fact that it goes back to Celtic Tiger reporting styles where every construction project was seen as a bottomless pit of employment.
It’s dangerous to report on jobs in that manner as it seems like the actual employment created by every major project is higher than it actually is.
Don’t forget the knock on business if it is a success. Local shops, pups restaurants etc,
Main Contractor to this fantastic new rural project will hardly hang about until currently employed building workers become available Jason!
Construction life is not that simple especially outside of The Pale, where large-scale contracts are very rare indeed. Ok all 750 won’t be full-time, for contract duration, but a good chunk will be, especially carpenters on the log cabins, ground workers etc.
Local Sub Contractors will be dusting down old contact lists of Tradesmen to see who might be available for work within an hour or so drive from the Newcastle site, or from those forced abroad following the Celtic Tiger collapse of 2008, now wishing to return to Ireland.
There will be many part-time farmers in Longford and in the surrounding counties who are highly skilled tradesmen, now very much under-utilised and under-paid, relishing the prospect of good employment for a few years at least.
#moreregionaldevelopmentinireland
location, location, location
1000 Polish jobs more like
Both of your comments are disgusting!!!
Have you seen the local ladies of Longford ?
Why are there no Irish pole dancers ?
They can’t make the steel strong enough !
Apu,thanks for the laugh
Apu , that’s very cruel.
Many overweight ladies are unable to exercise due to gland problems, weak ankles, etc.
Though most are just bone lazy.
Says the guy too embarrassed by his face to show it in a profile pic.
If most Irish women stuck to their diet – we could end world hunger.
Says the girl with a cartoon for her profile pic
“It’s a no-brainer. It will be a big boost to the village.”
Well that makes it a certainty that An Bord Planeala will refuse permission then.
Just heard planning has been denied. It turns out there’s a rare species of earthworm with 7 mickys living on the exact patch of land they want to build on, the worms live nowhere else in the world.
Hope it goes ahead. Ireland needs more places like this and it’ll give Tayto Park with its rip off entrance/wrist band fees a right kick in the arse.
I believe their first choice of location was Leitrim, but then they found out it doesn’t exist.
Ecotourism is big business internationally
And this is nothing like ecotourism
Not sure this is what is meant by Ecotourism, devastate a beautiful forest, create a bottleneck for people using The N4, import cheap labour to build it and bring supplies and cheap labour in from existing UK resources. Sounds like a dream come true for any Irish village
I have yet to be woo’ed by this, I hope that it is successfull for everyone’s sake.
I don’t think woo’ing you is the point of it
John Joe Joyce and the lads are looking forward to it
All joking aside its great news for the county but there needs to be more investment outside the pale
Let’s hope this still goes ahead after Brexit, even if they get planning permission. The plunge in Sterling means the cost of this for Centre Parks has gone up 12% in a month. Their own business in the UK will also suffer from the coming UK recession.
Quite the opposite for their uk business
It’s expected to rise as uk based people aren’t going to go abroad as much to the equine the parks in France and Italy
Equivalent
What ever happen this
If that was built and then this Ireland could relay be happening place for all.
A no brainer, but wait for the whingers. Already some muttering that not enough jobs will go to unemployed locals.
Some people would like Centre Parcs to just drop by their homes with pay packets.
This will be a massive boost for longford i really hope it goes thru fun times ahead in ballymahon
I hate Centre Parcs. They stole the forest from my town and the families here who could once enjoy the forest for free. They replaced it with buildings to put people who want to PAY for a plastic version of what was once really here for free and for everybody to enjoy. centre parcs= GREED and short sightedness
Great news for the North-West – A Gaeltacht should be on the plans though re the start up Gaeltacht in Meath in the 1930′s
Gaeltacht Rath Chairn
Board Planneala have lost their power since they were threatened with a review of their role. Integrity within the Board has gone and planning now is being given to anything the developers and Lowery/ Beverly Flynn(if that is the name she is using now) look for. Shame as bad planning got us into the mess we are in.
have your say