Center Parcs reveals plans for sixth UK holiday village in West Sussex

enter Parcs has revealed plans for a sixth UK outpost in West Sussex.

The family destination announced on Monday that is has identified a potential location for one of its signature “holiday villages” on the edge of Crawley.

Center Parcs UK said it has secured has secured an option agreement to acquire 553 acres of privately owned woodland at a place called Oldhouse Warren.

Leisure firm bosses said the site had been discovered following an extensive search, and is ideal due to its location to the south of London and its “excellent transport links”.

Center Parcs said it is now to undertake extensive surveys, community engagement and pre-planning works to check the site will work for one of its villages – which include child-friendly swimming complexes and a spa – before submitting a planning application to the local council “in due course”.

If it goes ahead, the firm said the development is expected to cost between £350 million and £400 million, and create both around 1,000 jobs in its construction, and around 1,500 permanent local jobs once open.

Center Parcs’ CEO, Martin Dalby, said it is “really exciting” to have found another potential UK site, and that the company will share plans as they progress.

The leisure firm has been owned by Brookfield Asset Management since 2017 after the investment giant acquired Center Parcs UK from fellow asset manager Blackstone.

Brad Hyler, Managing Partner and Head of European Real Estate at Brookfield, said: “Center Parcs is the destination of choice for short breaks in the UK and as owners we are excited to support its expansion with plans for the sixth UK holiday village.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Center Parcs team on delivering this exciting development and the economic benefits it will bring to the local area.”