Nottingham multi-disciplinary construction consultancy Edmond Shipway have been given the go ahead to proceed with the construction of the new £250m Center Parcs Village at Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire.
The firm will be acting as project manager, cost consultant and dealing with the fixtures, fittings and equipment procurement for the development located on a 360 acre site just off Junction 13 of the M1.
The scheme comprises 625 lodges, centre buildings including swimming pools, a luxury hotel, a ground breaking spa and self contained spa suites, indoor and outdoor sports facilities and a range of food, beverage and retail outlets.
This follows the completion of all the requirements of planning consent, including the construction of a new roundabout at Millbrook, the diversion of Public Rights of Way and creation of new bridleways and cycle paths around the site. On the 28 February 2012, together with their owners Blackstone, Center Parcs secured the £250m funding to commence the construction phase. The principal contractors for the project will be formally announced shortly and are expected to start the major infrastructure phase of the project in the next few weeks.
The project has received backing from the Prime Minister, who recognised the economic importance of Woburn Forest, David Cameron commented: “Center Parcs is much loved by many and this new site is not only great news for holiday makers but great news for the economy too. This expansion and the jobs that it brings will be a real boost to growth and a sign of the increasing investor confidence that there is too.”
Center Parcs chief executive officer Martin Dalby said: “We are delighted to be moving on to the next stage of the project and to have a definite opening date of Spring 2014.”
“We are delighted to have received the go ahead for construction of Center Parcs Woburn village which will be one the largest commercial leisure projects in the UK over the next few years and, on completion, will reset the benchmark for the UK short break holiday,” said David Stevenson, director of Edmond Shipway. “As their retained project managers and cost consultants, we have worked on numerous projects for Center Parcs over the last 10 years including delivering the rebuild of the village at Elveden and more recently the new tree house accommodation at Sherwood and Longleat as well as the luxury spa suites at Elveden. The go ahead is terrific news for the practice and plans are in place to commence construction shortly.”
