Center Parcs aims for site in South

THE South East could get its first Center Parcs resort. The upmarket holiday camps operator today said plans for a fifth site in the UK are moving ahead and initial discussions with landowners have taken place.

Chief executive Martin Dalby said Center Parcs is committed to acquiring a 400-acre forest site in the South but in a location which will not cannibalise its holiday villages at Longleat in Wiltshire and near Thetford in Norfolk. It will cost £130m to build.

Dalby said he also intends to expand its Aqua Sana health spas out of the resorts and set them up as a stand-alone brand.

Reporting pre-tax profits of £24.4m in the 53 weeks to 22 April on turnover of £227m, Center Parcs said it achieved 93% room occupancy and raised accommodation rates by 7.4% as it persuaded more customers to pay more for its 'executive villas'.