Center Parcs Warren Wood

Center Parcs Warren Wood is a new holiday village that will be constructed in woodland 7-8 miles from the Town of Woburn in Bedfordshire in the UK.

Planning Application

In December 2004, Center Parcs announced that it had identified a location for a fifth UK site, at Warren Wood near Woburn, Bedfordshire. It would be seeking planning permission and had already completed the signing of a lease on the land from its owner, the Duke of Bedford. The project was expected to cost approximately £160 million, including the construction of accommodation, indoor and outdoor facilities, sub-tropical swimming complex, restaurants and a spa.

Planning permission for this build was initially refused by Mid Bedfordshire District Council on the grounds that the project breached policy safeguarding Green Belt land. The company appealed against the decision, and the inspector hearing the appeal recommended that the Council's decision be upheld. However, Secretary of State Hazel Blears overruled the inspector's advice. She acknowledged that the scheme breached both local and national policies on safeguarding Green Belt, but argued that "in this particular case, the economic and employment benefits of the proposal, when taken together with the ecological and biodiversity benefits... constitute very special circumstances and are sufficient to clearly outweigh the harm to Green Belt". [ [http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115315171306.html Planning Portal] ]

The 5th site is to be built at the start of 2009 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

The Plans

The site will be slightly smaller than its other four sites at 375 acres. It will include:
* 700 villas
* 75 bedroom hotel
* Aqua Sana & 12 bedroom spa accommodation
* Two main centres with restaurants, retail outlets and Subtropical Swimming Paradise
* 1400 space car park
* Hard/Soft Landscaping & Lake
* Activity areas
* Nature Centre

References

External links

* [http://www.midbeds.gov.uk/Images/Design%20Statement_tcm5-9675.pdf Center Parcs Warren Wood Plans]