A MASSIVE NEW holiday resort in Longford 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.

Today, Center Parcs welcomed the decision by Longford County Council to grant planning permission for the development of the €233m resort.

Plans for the site.

It’s expected to open in 2019 and have 470 lodges and 30 apartments, more than 100 indoor and outdoor activities, a spa, restaurants, cafés and shops and a swimming area with water slides.

Center Parcs said that only 10% of the total woodland area would be built on.

Martin Dalby, CEO described it as “a very important milestone for Center Parcs” and thanked Longford County Council “for having the confidence in our proposal”.

Engagement and dialogue with the local community in Ballymahon and the wider Longford area has been an important part of our approach, and will continue during the next steps of the planning process. The positive outcome recognises the transformative impact Center Parcs Longford Forest will have on the midlands region in terms of jobs, tourism and wider economic benefits.

The holiday village would have capacity for up to 2,500 guests and would employ up to 1,000 people in permanent jobs. It would create around 750 jobs during the construction phase.

Center Parcs estimates that, when operational, the new holiday village would add approximately €32million to Irish GDP per annum and €1bn 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.