Center Parcs abandon plans for West Sussex holiday village
Wildlife campaigners are "thrilled" at the decision
Center Parcs has abandoned plans to build a holiday village in West Sussex.
The proposals for Oldhouse Warren near Crawley were criticised by wildlife campaigners who said it could damage ancient woodland.
The company had secured an option agreement to acquire the privately owned woodland in 2021.
Center Parc has decided it is not a suitable location after carrying out "rigorous" environmental surveys and ecological surveys.
Chief executive Colin McKinlay said: "We have always been committed to only building our villages in areas where we can improve the biodiversity of the site.
"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.
"We are confident that there is strong demand in the UK market for a sixth Center Parcs village and we will continue our search for a suitable site."
Sussex Wildlife Trust said it was "thrilled" that Center Parcs have "done the right thing" by scapping its plans for Oldhouse Warren.
A spokesperson said: "Oldhouse Warren is an ancient woodland, an irreplaceable and highly protected habitat.
"It’s part of the medieval Worth Forest and has been a haven for wildlife for centuries, possible millennia.
"We knew it was the wrong location from the start and have been expressing this to Center Parcs since they first announced their proposal back in 2021."