Over 500 jobs to be created in Longford as An Bord Pleanála approve €100m Center Parcs expansion

The plans will see the creation of 198 new lodges, external saunas and pods, a new lakeside restaurant and coffee shop as well as extension to a series of existing facilities at the firm’s 395 acre Longford Forest.

Once operational, the additional capacity at Longford Forest is also expected to inject a further €27 million per annum to Irish GDP.

The plans represent the latest in a number of large-scale investments Center Parcs bosses have rolled out since the short break holiday firm opened its doors in 2019.

It’s anticipated the expansion will created 300 jobs during construction and 250 permanent jobs once fully operational.

In a 58 page inspector’s report, planning chiefs have stipulated conditions for a road safety audit to be carried out as well as a construction traffic management plan.

In one of a number of objections lodged with An Bord Pleanála concern was expressed over the proximity of the site to the former Ballymulvey landfill, in which he says a significant quantity of asbestos-contaminated waste is buried, “with neither the precise location, nor the present condition of this waste being known.”

However, inspectors found the landfill in question to be “well removed from the subject site” with the report finding “no significant effect on population and human health.”

Additional focus as part of the appeal also dealt with doubts over wastewater emissions and claims the development would add a “very significant quantity” of dissolved phosphorus and nitrogen to the Inny River.

However, following a detailed assessment inspectors insisted the proposed development would “not deteriorate the water quality status of the Rath River or Inny River”.

It’s anticipated work on the planned expansion will get underway in the new year, something which has been greeted warmly greeted at local political level.

“We recognise already the major contribution economically and otherwise that Center Parcs has made to the area and indeed the whole of county Longford since it opened in 2019 and looking back at even the building stage from 2016 to 2019 it gave a huge uplift to the local economy,” said local Cllr Pat O’Toole.

“This extension, you will have again the building stage and about 300 jobs in the longer term so it is a very welcome decision by An Bord Pleanála.”

The decision, which is subject to 17 conditions, also comes just days after Independent.ie published an article revealing how the planning authority was coming under heightened pressure over a decision that had originally been due to be made in March.

Local Fine Gael Cllr Paul Ross, who had earlier insisted An Bord Pleanála had “serious questions to answer” over the delay, hinted at how those sentiments may well have forced the hand of the independent planning authority to adopt a more expeditious approach to the project.

“I very much welcome this decision by An Bord Pleanála even though there is quite a coincidence in that it came a week after an article appeared criticising delays in the planning process,” he said.

“There will definitely be a year’s work in Ballymahon and there will be a huge knock on effect to the likes of the local shops and filling stations.

“In the past we seen a lot of local companies were able to service this and supply into Center Parcs during the construction phase and I am sure it will be the same again.

“It will be one of the biggest building projects in the country so it is a huge boost to Longford.”