Center Parcs has announced that it has identified a site for its sixth UK holiday village.

The company has secured an option agreement to acquire privately owned woodland at Oldhouse Warren off Balcombe Road, near Crawley in West Sussex.

Following an extensive search, the 553-acres of woodland has been identified as a suitable site due to its location to the south of London and its excellent transport links.

Center Parcs will now undertake rigorous site surveys and pre-planning works to ensure the woodland meets the specific requirements of a Center Parcs village, as well as
carrying out a programme of community engagement with a view to submitting a planning application to the local authority in due course.

In line with the other Center Parcs villages, it is intended that the site at Oldhouse Warren will include lodges, a range of indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, a Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a variety of restaurants and shops and an Aqua Sana Spa.

The development is expected to cost £350-£400 million and create approximately 1,500 permanent local jobs once operational and a further 1,000 jobs during construction.

Center Parcs chief executive, Martin Dalby, said: “It is really exciting to have identified a potential site for another Center Parcs village in the UK.

“The proposal we will be submitting will create a significant number of jobs and bring major benefits to the local and national economy.

“Today’s announcement marks the first step of a long journey and there is still a huge amount of work to be done before we can submit a planning application.

“As a business, we take our responsibility to the local community extremely seriously and look forward to sharing our plans as they progress.”