Looking back at 2022: October - Massive jobs boost for Longford

The investment will see the creation of 300 jobs during construction and 250 permanent jobs once operational.

Longford County Council granted permission to Center Parcs for the €85 million expansion of the Ballymahon based holiday destination subject to 20 planning conditions. Center Parcs lodged the planning application to extend their operation last August.

Center Parcs Longford Forest accommodates up to 2,500 guests in its 466 self-catering lodges and 30 apartments.

The holiday village was granted permission to increase the number of units and services provided with a major extension to its facilities in Newcastle Wood.

The approval covers 198 new lodges located in three zones. This will comprise of 56 two-bedroom lodges, 105 three-bedroom lodges, 32 four-bedroom lodges, one five-bedroom lodge, and four six-bedroom lodges.

The expansion will see external sauna or pods associated with specific lodges, coffee shop, lakeside restaurant, energy centre, staff welfare and storage building all being developed.

In September the holiday firm confirmed that over one million people have visited Longford forest since it opened in August of 2019.

“It's great news really,” Cllr Pat O'Toole said of the decision by the council planners to approve the expansion plans.

The conditions attached to the planning permission include the monitoring of the site by an archaeologist and payment of a development fee of €329,688.