Plans to build £400m Center Parcs village in ancient woodland dropped ... trends now

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Plans to build a £400 million pound Center Parcs village in ancient woodland that would have been 'disastrous' to nature have been dropped following protests by nature campaigners including Clive Anderson.

The holiday park firm had planned to build around 900 lodges, a 'sub-tropical swimming centre', recreational facilities, shops, restaurants, car parks, and roads spread over an area of around 350 football pitches at the site, Oldhouse Warren in West Sussex.

But the proposals were ditched following protests including those of Mr Anderson, the President of the Woodland Trust, who said development 'threatens the hard-won protection for ancient woodland across the UK'.

Conservationists said it would put in jeopardy the survival of birds at the site, which incorporates Worth Forest including Goshawks, Crossbills Marsh Tits, and Firecrests as well as rare plants including the Ivy Leaved Bellflower and Bog Pimpernel.

The site, which forms part of Worth Forest, to the south of Crawley, was earmarked to be the firm's sixth site in the UK and Ireland and was chosen for its close transport links to London.