Center Parcs UK
Encyclopedia
Center Parcs is a holiday and recreation company which operates four holiday villages in the United Kingdom
, with each village covering about 400 acres (1.6 km²) of woodland. The first park opened in 1987. A similar enterprise operates in continental Europe under the same name; however, the two companies are separately owned.
and was named Sherwood Forest
. It was well received by the press and the visitors who took to the fact there was something refreshingly different.
In 1989, Center Parcs opened its second village, Elveden Forest
, near Brandon
, in Suffolk
.
In April 2002 a fire destroyed the central plaza and sports centre of the village. There were no fatalities, but one member of staff was treated for smoke inhalation. In the summer of 2003 after extensive rebuilding, which saw the plaza replaced with a new open village square, the village reopened. Whilst closed the rest of the village was also improved including the refurbishment of the country club and the addition of the Aqua Sana and new three and four bedroom lodges.
In 1994 Center Parcs opened its third village, Longleat Forest, near Warminster
in Wiltshire
. The village had slightly fewer villas than Elveden and Sherwood due to the steep topography of the site.
In 2001, Center Parcs took over a similar set up holiday park near Penrith
at which originally opened in 1997 under the name Oasis Lakeland Holiday Village. The village was rebranded as Center Parcs Oasis Whinfell Forest but in 2006 the 'Oasis' was dropped from the name and is called Whinfell Forest
.. The set up at Whinfell Forest
is slightly different. The style of accommodation at the Whinfell Forest is different from the previous village with Scandinavian-style lodges. The main center of the village is under cover which differs from the open-air village squares at Sherwood and Elveden and Longleat's smaller covered Plaza. The decision to add Whinfell this to the Center Parcs portfolio was bold especially considering Center Parcs' initial criticism of the village when it first opened. However Center Parcs avoided the costly and time-consuming process of constructing a village from scratch. Whinfell Forest lacks a country club, as does Longleat.
business
, Scottish and Newcastle sold the UK side of Center Parcs to venture capital
ists. It was announced on 4 December 2003 that the then owners, Mid Ocean, would sell the UK resorts to Arbor for £285 million. Arbor was a company set up specifically to purchase Center Parcs, and float it on the London Stock Exchange
's Alternative Investment Market
.
In May 2006 Center Parcs UK Group Plc was sold to Blackstone Group
, an American private investment company. Subsequently Center Parcs was delisted as a plc and re-registered as a private company, a subsidiary of the Blackstone Group.
During the sale, future growth of Center Parcs was hinted at by the Chief Executive, Martin Dalby. He said that the company might add a fifth village at some time in the future, but was also looking towards organic growth through investment in new facilities at the existing villages. Late in 2004 it was announced that the fifth village would be built on designated greenbelt near Woburn
in Bedfordshire
. Following the sale to The Blackstone Group, focus was shifted from growth, to investment in the existing villages and plans for the future village were put on hold.
, which is itself owned by Pierre et Vacances, a French holiday company. Centerparcs Europe and Centerparcs UK only share history, name and logo.
, archery
, pool
and snooker
tournaments, rollerblading, aerobics
, pilates
, yoga
, t'ai chi, badminton
, tennis
, table tennis
, diving
, paintball
, Laser Clay Shooting, sports quiz, art class, creative writing
, woodland walks, paint pots for your patio, cycling
, ten-pin bowling
, lawn bowls and boules
, go-karting
, climbing
, flu-flu golf and a variety of activities such as abseiling
and high rope assault course
, plus many more depending on the village.
In December 2004, Center Parcs announced that it had identified a location for a fifth UK site, at Warren Wood
near Woburn, Bedfordshire
. Despite the site being designated as Greenbelt 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. It is anticipated that, given planning permission, the project would take between three and four years to complete.
In July 2006, Bedfordshire District Council turned down Center Parcs' application for planning approval, leading the company to lodge an appeal against the decision later that year. In September 2007 the Council's decision was overturned by the government, and outline planning permission for the Warren Wood site was granted by the Secretary of State. In November 2010 Center Parcs gained full approval for the plans of the village including designs of facilities, restaurants, shops and accommodation. Construction was delayed and is now due to begin in late 2010/early 2011. The fifth site is expected to open in summer 2013.. Interestingly Center Parcs has opted to construct accommodation in a Scandinavian design similar to the lodges at Whinfell Forest rather than of its own design used at Sherwood, Elveden and Longleat.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, with each village covering about 400 acres (1.6 km²) of woodland. The first park opened in 1987. A similar enterprise operates in continental Europe under the same name; however, the two companies are separately owned.
History
The first Center Parcs holiday village in the United Kingdom opened in 1987 near Rufford, in NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
and was named Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest is a Royal Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, that is famous through its historical association with the legend of Robin Hood. Continuously forested since the end of the Ice Age, Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve today encompasses 423 hectares surrounding the village of...
. It was well received by the press and the visitors who took to the fact there was something refreshingly different.
In 1989, Center Parcs opened its second village, Elveden Forest
Elveden Forest
Elveden Forest makes up a small area of Thetford Forest near the town of Brandon, Suffolk, England. It is east of the B1106 and is occupied by a Center Parcs Holiday village. It is named after the nearby village of Elveden.-2002 fire:...
, near Brandon
Brandon, Suffolk
Brandon is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It is in the Forest Heath local government district.Brandon is located in the Breckland area on the border of Suffolk with the adjoining county of Norfolk...
, in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.
In April 2002 a fire destroyed the central plaza and sports centre of the village. There were no fatalities, but one member of staff was treated for smoke inhalation. In the summer of 2003 after extensive rebuilding, which saw the plaza replaced with a new open village square, the village reopened. Whilst closed the rest of the village was also improved including the refurbishment of the country club and the addition of the Aqua Sana and new three and four bedroom lodges.
In 1994 Center Parcs opened its third village, Longleat Forest, near Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. The village had slightly fewer villas than Elveden and Sherwood due to the steep topography of the site.
In 2001, Center Parcs took over a similar set up holiday park near Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
at which originally opened in 1997 under the name Oasis Lakeland Holiday Village. The village was rebranded as Center Parcs Oasis Whinfell Forest but in 2006 the 'Oasis' was dropped from the name and is called Whinfell Forest
Whinfell Forest
Whinfell Forest is now a small area of woodland in the parish of Brougham, Cumbria that lies south east of Penrith in Cumbria and just off the A66 road leading to Appleby-in-Westmorland. The forest is a short distance from the Lake District national park and is surrounded by a large number of...
.. The set up at Whinfell Forest
Whinfell Forest
Whinfell Forest is now a small area of woodland in the parish of Brougham, Cumbria that lies south east of Penrith in Cumbria and just off the A66 road leading to Appleby-in-Westmorland. The forest is a short distance from the Lake District national park and is surrounded by a large number of...
is slightly different. The style of accommodation at the Whinfell Forest is different from the previous village with Scandinavian-style lodges. The main center of the village is under cover which differs from the open-air village squares at Sherwood and Elveden and Longleat's smaller covered Plaza. The decision to add Whinfell this to the Center Parcs portfolio was bold especially considering Center Parcs' initial criticism of the village when it first opened. However Center Parcs avoided the costly and time-consuming process of constructing a village from scratch. Whinfell Forest lacks a country club, as does Longleat.
UK ownership
In 2001 during a move to concentrate on their core brewingBrewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, Scottish and Newcastle sold the UK side of Center Parcs to venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
ists. It was announced on 4 December 2003 that the then owners, Mid Ocean, would sell the UK resorts to Arbor for £285 million. Arbor was a company set up specifically to purchase Center Parcs, and float it on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
's Alternative Investment Market
Alternative Investment Market
AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main market....
.
In May 2006 Center Parcs UK Group Plc was sold to Blackstone Group
Blackstone Group
The Blackstone Group L.P. is an American-based alternative asset management and financial services company that specializes in private equity, real estate, and credit and marketable alternative investment strategies, as well as financial advisory services, such as mergers and acquisitions ,...
, an American private investment company. Subsequently Center Parcs was delisted as a plc and re-registered as a private company, a subsidiary of the Blackstone Group.
During the sale, future growth of Center Parcs was hinted at by the Chief Executive, Martin Dalby. He said that the company might add a fifth village at some time in the future, but was also looking towards organic growth through investment in new facilities at the existing villages. Late in 2004 it was announced that the fifth village would be built on designated greenbelt near Woburn
Woburn, Bedfordshire
Woburn is a small Saxon village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is situated about southeast of the centre of Milton Keynes, and about south of junction 13 of the M1 motorway and is a popular tourist attraction.-History:...
in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. Following the sale to The Blackstone Group, focus was shifted from growth, to investment in the existing villages and plans for the future village were put on hold.
European ownership
All resorts on the European main land are owned and operated by a Dutch company called Center Parcs EuropeCenter Parcs
Center Parcs is a European network of holiday villages incorporating a UK-based company, Center Parcs UK, which runs holiday villages in the United Kingdom and a sister enterprise, Center Parcs Europe, that operates in numerous locations in continental Europe...
, which is itself owned by Pierre et Vacances, a French holiday company. Centerparcs Europe and Centerparcs UK only share history, name and logo.
Facilities
General village facilities
| Facility | Usage |
|---|---|
| Arrivals Lodge | Each Village has an Arrivals Lodge situated on the main drive at Sherwood, Elveden and Longleat and slightly east of the Village entrance at Whinfell. Guests are directed here for guest check-in from 10am on their arrival day. |
| Security Lodge | Each village has a Security lodge staffed by Security 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Security staff help with directing traffic to the Arrivals Lodge on arrival, identify all visitors to the Village, staff barriers and assist Arrivals Lodge staff on changeover days. They also staff the emergency phone number given to guests to call in the event of an emergency. |
| Subtropical Swimming Paradise | The village swimming complex complete with wave pool, slides, wild river rapids, outdoor pool, lazy river, flumes, children's pool and food outlet (The Lagoon Bar). |
| Village Square (Sherwood, Elveden & Longleat) | Open air hub of restaurants and shops as well as and facilities such as a launderette, Guest Services and medical centre |
| Village Centre (Whinfell) / Plaza (Longleat) | Covered hub of restaurants and shops as well as and facilities such as a launderette, Guest Services and medical centre |
| Jardin des Sports (Sherwood, Longleat) / Sports Plaza (Whinfell, Elveden) | Contains most of the village indoor sports facilities which typically include squash courts, badminton courts, pool and snooker tables, gymnasium, table tennis, golf simulator, indoor climbing wall and aerobics studio. There is also a themed restaurant, a sportswear shop and a newsagents |
| Boathouse | For all water based activities on the watersports lake including canoeing, fishing, pedalos, windsurfing and raft building |
| Aqua Sana | The village spa area. Spa area includes various rooms such as "Indian Blossom Room", "Greek Herbal Room", "Tyrolean Sauna", "Zen Garden" - as well as a central pool with jacuzzi-style area at one end. |
| Timeout Clubhouse | The village crèche |
| Leisure Bowl and House of Games | A tenpin bowling alley and coin operated arcade video games |
| Country Club | Contains additional restaurant and leisure facilities at some villages. |
Village facilities
- Sherwood Forest features an open air village square, Jardin des Sport and Country Club.
- Whinfell Forest features just a covered Village Centre and Sports Plaza.
- Elveden Forest features a Piazza and Sports Plaza that adjoin the village square and a separate Country Club
- Longleat Forest features a separate village square, plaza and Jardin des Sports
Activities
FalconryFalconry
Falconry is "the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor". There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk or an eagle...
, archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, pool
Pocket billiards
Pool, also more formally known as pocket billiards or pool billiards , is the family of cue sports and games played on a pool table having six receptacles called pockets along the , into which balls are deposited as the main goal of play. Popular versions include eight-ball and nine-ball...
and snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
tournaments, rollerblading, aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
, pilates
Pilates
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates in Germany, the UK and the USA. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States....
, yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, t'ai chi, badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, paintball
Paintball
Paintball is a sport in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye and gelatin shell outside propelled from a device called a paintball marker . Paintballs have a non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble...
, Laser Clay Shooting, sports quiz, art class, creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
, woodland walks, paint pots for your patio, cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
, lawn bowls and boules
Boules
Boules is a collective name for games played with metal balls.Two of the most played boule games are pétanque and boule lyonnaise. The aim of the game is to get large, heavy balls as close to the 'jack' as you can. It is very popular especially in France, but also Italy, where it may often be seen...
, go-karting
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
, climbing
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
, flu-flu golf and a variety of activities such as abseiling
Abseiling
Abseiling , rappelling in American English, is the controlled descent down a rock face using a rope; climbers use this technique when a cliff or slope is too steep and/or dangerous to descend without protection.- Slang terms :...
and high rope assault course
Assault course
An assault course is a special sort of trail that combines running and exercising. It was more popular in the 1970s than it is now. It is heavily used in military training...
, plus many more depending on the village.
Accommodation
Each village has a number of different villa types that range from 1 to 4 bedrooms:- Comfort
- Comfort Plus
- Original Style Executive
- New Style Executive Lodge
- Original Style Exclusive Lodge
- New Style Woodland Lodge
- New Style Exclusive Lodge (Only available at Longleat Forest and Elveldon Forest)
- Treehouse (only available at Sherwood Forest and Longleat Forest)
New fifth UK site
Having built a strong brand in the UK Center Parcs had chosen to expand and construct a fifth village. This has caused opposition from local communities whom seem to view the potential villages as an attack on their recreational space and do not believe that it will effectively inject cash and jobs in to an area.In December 2004, Center Parcs announced that it had identified a location for a fifth UK site, at Warren Wood
Center Parcs Warren Wood
Center Parcs Woburn Forest is a new holiday village that will be constructed in woodland on the outskirts of Flitwick and Ampthill in Bedfordshire in the UK.-Planning application:...
near Woburn, Bedfordshire
Woburn, Bedfordshire
Woburn is a small Saxon village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is situated about southeast of the centre of Milton Keynes, and about south of junction 13 of the M1 motorway and is a popular tourist attraction.-History:...
. Despite the site being designated as Greenbelt 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
Duke of Bedford
thumb|right|240px|William Russell, 1st Duke of BedfordDuke of Bedford is a title that has been created five times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1414 in favour of Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. He was made Earl of Kendal at the same time...
. 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. It is anticipated that, given planning permission, the project would take between three and four years to complete.
In July 2006, Bedfordshire District Council turned down Center Parcs' application for planning approval, leading the company to lodge an appeal against the decision later that year. In September 2007 the Council's decision was overturned by the government, and outline planning permission for the Warren Wood site was granted by the Secretary of State. In November 2010 Center Parcs gained full approval for the plans of the village including designs of facilities, restaurants, shops and accommodation. Construction was delayed and is now due to begin in late 2010/early 2011. The fifth site is expected to open in summer 2013.. Interestingly Center Parcs has opted to construct accommodation in a Scandinavian design similar to the lodges at Whinfell Forest rather than of its own design used at Sherwood, Elveden and Longleat.
Possible sixth village
In an interview Martin Dalby, the CEO of Center Parcs UK, stated that the new village near Woburn would by the last village the company constructed in the UK and that any further village would probably be located in Ireland (Northern or Republic).Resorts
Center Parcs UK consists of the following 4 resorts (with one more in the planning and construction stage):| Resort / County | City / Village | Region | Opened | Notes |
| Center Parcs Sherwood Forest Center Parcs Sherwood Forest The European leisure group Center Parcs opened its first UK Holiday Village in July 1987, in of land in Sherwood Forest near Rufford, Nottinghamshire.- Attractions :... |
Rufford | Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west... |
1987 | - |
| Center Parcs Elveden Forest Elveden Forest Elveden Forest makes up a small area of Thetford Forest near the town of Brandon, Suffolk, England. It is east of the B1106 and is occupied by a Center Parcs Holiday village. It is named after the nearby village of Elveden.-2002 fire:... |
Brandon Brandon, Suffolk Brandon is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It is in the Forest Heath local government district.Brandon is located in the Breckland area on the border of Suffolk with the adjoining county of Norfolk... |
Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east... |
1989 | Closed between April 2002 and June 2003 for reconstruction after fire |
| Center Parcs Longleat Forest | Warminster Warminster Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were... |
Wiltshire Wiltshire Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers... |
1994 | - |
| Center Parcs Whinfell Forest Whinfell Forest Whinfell Forest is now a small area of woodland in the parish of Brougham, Cumbria that lies south east of Penrith in Cumbria and just off the A66 road leading to Appleby-in-Westmorland. The forest is a short distance from the Lake District national park and is surrounded by a large number of... |
Penrith Penrith, Cumbria Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area.... |
Cumbria Cumbria Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in... |
1997 | Added to the Center Parcs portfolio in 2001, previously owned by the Rank Group |
| Center Parcs Woburn Forest | Woburn Woburn, Bedfordshire Woburn is a small Saxon village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is situated about southeast of the centre of Milton Keynes, and about south of junction 13 of the M1 motorway and is a popular tourist attraction.-History:... |
Bedfordshire Bedfordshire Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east.... |
2013 | If funding can be secured, construction may commence in 2011 with opening expected in summer 2013 |