Center Parcs scraps plans for Sussex holiday village

Center Parcs has pulled out of plans to build a forest holiday village at Oldhouse Warren near Crawley in West Sussex.

In July 2021, the company secured an option agreement to acquire the privately owned woodland.

However, Center Parcs said that after running ecological and environmental surveys it had concluded it was “not a suitable location” for a holiday village.

“We have always been committed to only building our villages in areas where we can improve the biodiversity of the site,” said Center Parcs chief executive Colin McKinlay.

“Whilst it is obviously disappointing that we will not be able to bring Center Parcs to this part of West Sussex, this decision demonstrates how seriously we take our responsibility to the environment, as well as our ongoing commitment to enhancing the natural habitats in which our villages are located.”

The proposed development included plans for up to 900 holiday lodges, a restaurant, and swimming complex across 553 acres of Worth Forest.

Sussex Wildlife Trust said it was “thrilled” that Center Parcs had “done the right thing in realising that Oldhouse Warren, a fantastic ancient woodland, is the wrong place for their next development”.

“We knew it was the wrong location from the start and want to thank all of our members and supporters who contacted Center Parcs and campaigned against this proposal,” a statement on the Trust website said.

“Working together, we have saved a very special part of Sussex, which is home to rare breeding birds such as Marsh Tit, Goshawk and Firecrest and wonderful woodland flowers such as Ivy Leaved Bellflower and Bog Pimpernel.”

Center Parcs runs five UK sites in Whinfell Forest, Sherwood Forest, Longleat Forest, Elveden Forest and Woburn Forest (pictured). It also runs Longford Forrest near Ballymahon in Ireland.

McKinlay said there was still “strong demand” for a sixth Center Parcs village in the UK and confirmed the company would continue to search for a suitable location.

Image: Simon Vayro / Shutterstock