Bluestone has announced it will start building a new £110 million green holiday village in west Wales.
Work will start immediately on the village, which will use renewable energy and is designed to be a beacon for eco tourism in the UK.
Bluestone said the holiday village in Pembrokeshire would attract 100,000 visitors a year. Two new all weather facilities – a sub tropical water world and snow centre – are each anticipated to attract 250,000 day visitors a year. It will cater for the more discerning visitor and target the higher end of the market, the company said.
Research by Mintel showed there was market demand for luxury holiday villages, Bluestone said.
Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly minister for enterprise, innovation and networks said: “This is a flagship project for Wales, which will set new standards of quality and become a beacon for eco-tourism and sustainable development within the UK.
“Bluestone will play a pivotal role in developing the short breaks market, expanding the tourism season and bring added value to the market.”
William McNamara, chief executive of Bluestone said: “Bluestone will be built primarily within The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, a responsibility that we do not take lightly, and we aim to deliver a new generation of eco-tourism with sustainable development principles at its core.
“Bluestone will utilise renewable energy on a commercial scale and will build an energy visitor centre, placing Wales at the forefront of sustainable technology in the UK.”
The project will receive £14.5 million in grant aid from the Welsh Assembly Government and £4m investment from government enterprise agency Finance Wales, alongside an initial £41 million cash funding package from Mansford Holdings Plc and Bank of Scotland Corporate.
Further funding is provided by equity investors William McNamara and Sir Edward Dashwood. Pembrokeshire County Council is providing a loan.