ISG Books £61 Million Center Parcs Woburn Forest Scheme

ISG has secured the £61 million contract to build the accommodation element of the new Center Parcs holiday village development in Bedfordshire. Center Parcs Woburn Forest is the operator’s fifth UK village and the project sees ISG deliver 625 lodges across the 365 acre site, which is scheduled to open to guests in spring 2014.

Commencing in November, the 59-week fast-track scheme involves the construction of two, three and four bed lodges, built using off-site manufactured timber frames, structural insulated timber wall panels and traditional tiled roofs. Various styles of accommodation will be available to guests, including Woodland, Executive and Exclusive lodges.

Following the format of existing Center Parcs villages, the accommodation will be configured around woodland clusters, with linked lodges forming each cluster. Careful consideration has been given to the environmental performance of each lodge, which will be built using sustainably sourced timber and benefit from modern insulation materials.

This latest win sees ISG building upon its relationship with Blackstone, owner of the Center Parcs business and the Nido student accommodation brand. Within London, the contractor has successfully delivered Nido schemes at Notting Hill and Spitalfields, with the latter project valued at £120 million and, at 34-storeys tall, is the world’s tallest student accommodation hall.

ISG’s Craig Tatton, managing director – UK Construction, commented: “There has been a great deal of interest in this high profile development and I’m delighted that ISG has emerged as Center Parcs’ contractor of choice. Delivering 625 lodges across such a large site over an accelerated timeframe is a logistically challenging undertaking, especially when you factor in the restricted woodland setting and simultaneous infrastructure development works on site.

“Our extensive experience of off-site construction and just in time delivery solutions will prove critical to the success of this scheme, as will be the adoption of direct learning from our Olympic projects, in terms of waste management implementation and fostering positive behavioural change from our workforce.”

Martin Dalby Center Parcs’ CEO said: “High quality accommodation is a huge part of the Center Parcs experience, so we are delighted to have signed this very important contract with ISG. We are looking forward to work commencing on our new lodges later this year.”