Future Expansion
In December 2004, Center Parcs announced that it had identified a location for its fifth site, at Warren Wood in Bedfordshire. Despite the land being designated as greenbelt, the company sought planning permission and had already completed the signing of a lease on the land from its owner, the Duke of Bedford. The project was expected to cost approximately £160 million, including the construction of accommodation, indoor and outdoor facilities, the swimming complex, restaurants and a spa. It was anticipated that, given planning permission, the project would take between three and four years to complete.
In July 2006, Bedfordshire District Council turned down Center Parcs' application for planning approval, leading the company to lodge an appeal against the decision later that year. In September 2007 the council's decision was overturned by the government, and outline planning permission for the site was granted. In November 2010 Center Parcs gained full approval for the plans of the village including designs of facilities, restaurants, shops and accommodation and in 2012 secured £250 million of investment to built the new resort, to be known as Woburn Forest. It will be the smallest UK Center Parcs village and is due to open in spring 2014.
In a 2008 interview, Martin Dalby, the chief executive of Center Parcs UK, stated that the new village would be the last village the company constructed in the UK and that if a sixth village was considered it would probably be located in Ireland.
Read more about this topic: Center Parcs UK
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