News broke yesterday (Wednesday ) afternoon that Center Parcs has awarded the first of a number of construction contracts relating to the development of its Longford Forest holiday village to Mullingar-based construction firm Bennett Construction Limited.
Bennett Construction Limited has secured the contract to build a 4km long public footpath and security fence around the perimeter of the 395-acre Center Parcs site at Newcastle Wood in County Longford.
Work on the public perimeter footpath, which will include a riverside walkway, is expected to commence later this month for completion in spring 2017. The construction of a public footpath around the perimeter of the Center Parcs site is an important feature of the development and was included in the plans following consultation with the local community during the early planning process.
The footpath around the site – which will be incorporated into the woodland between the forest and the village – will ensure that the local community in Longford continue to have access to Newcastle Wood both during the construction phase and when the holiday village is operational. The tender process to select contractors for the infrastructure, centre buildings, and lodges at the village is ongoing.
Commenting on awarding the contract for the public footpath to Bennett Construction, Martin Dalby, CEO of Center Parcs, said: “It’s a pleasure to announce we will be working with local firm Bennett Construction Limited on the first part of the development of Center Parcs Longford Forest to get underway. From the outset we have spoken of our commitment to working with as many local and national suppliers in Ireland as possible in both the development of our holiday village, and indeed when it’s operational. Today is an important first signal of the local economic impact our project will have.”
Paul Bruton, joint managing director at Bennett Construction Limited, said: “We are delighted to have successfully secured this first package of works for the Center Parcs holiday village. Our offices are located 15 miles away from the development and we believe that this contract award is a clear statement of the Center Parcs commitment to working with local contractors and is a reflection of the effort of all those involved in bringing this project to fruition.’’
