ONE of Britain’s leading holiday resort providers is seeking planning permission for a €100m site in Ireland that could create 500 jobs.
Center Parcs UK is in negotiations with the State forestry board, Coillte, for a village resort to be built near Ballymahon, Co Longford.
It is expected that 600 jobs will be created in the construction stage, which could last for two and a half years.
With five forestry based village resorts and a turnover of over €400 million, Center Parcs run some of the most successful family holiday venues in the UK.
Center Parcs management has been in discussions with Longford County Council CEO Tim Caffrey and Coillte and is set to announce a deal worth more than €100 million.
The company intends to lease hundreds of acres of mature and semi-mature forestry at Newcastle, near Ballymahon.
It expected that planning permission will be sought in the next six months to construct more than 200 lodges and villas with a swimming pool complex, spas, restaurants and bars.
If a deal is agreed it is understood to be the biggest single private investment in tourism in the history of the State.
Center Parcs has five villages across Britain providing short-break holidays for families.
A spokesman for Center Parcs said an official announcement will be made on Thursday.
