A great milestone for Center Parcs Longford Forest with submission of planning application – McFadden

Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael TD, Gabrielle McFadden, has said that today (Friday) marks a great milestone for Center Parcs Longford Forest, with the submission of their application for planning permission.

“Today marks a great milestone for Center Parcs Longford Forest, with the submission of their application for planning permission for a development on the 395 acre site at Newcastle Wood, Longford.

“With this planning application today we can see the potential beneficial impact on the local economy as a result of this project. In their application, Center Parcs say it will add €1 billion to Ireland’s GDP over a 20 year period. They expect a 4% boost to Longford’s GDP during the construction phase and a further 2.8% annually when the facility is operational.

“This project is also hugely important for local job creation with the planned creation of 1,000 permanent jobs, once the park is open. This is expected to have a knock on effect with the creation of approximately 300 jobs in the wider local economy. In addition, approximately 750 jobs will be created during the construction phase.

“It is projected that Center Parcs Longford Forest will attract 250,000 visitors to County Longford each year, which would amount to a five-fold increase in the total number of tourists visiting the county. This is great news for local hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and shops, and will mean a huge added benefit to the local economy.

“I am delighted to see this project progress with the planning application being submitted today. Longford County Council will now hold a five week period of consultation, during which time the plans will be on public display at the Council office. I encourage local people to look at the plans and engage with the process, and we can all look forward to the benefits this project will bring to Longford over the coming years.”