The £10,000 holiday home

By Jane Slade
Posted: 2009/04/15

SALES of holiday park homes have soared in recent weeks and a broad cross-section of people are buying the little plots

According to Park Holidays UK, this spring is seeing a surge in holiday park home sales, which is being echoed by other park owners across the country. "Sales have been running at about 10 per cent above last year's figures, " says Park Holidays' commercial director Tony Clish.

It is probably not surprising since homes start from as little as £9,995 rising to £190,000, and also Park Holidays offers sports and entertainment facilities on all of its 24 sites.

Such has been the demand that the company is now actually giving away some of its older homes so owners are liable only for site fees, which start from £1,700 a year.

Alexis Camelin, who manages the Martello Beach Park in Pevensey, East Sussex, which is owned by Haulfryn Holiday Parks, also reports unprecedented sales in recent weeks. "I have never known anything like it, " he says.

"People don't want to buy abroad because it is so expensive yet they don't want to see their savings depreciate in a bank. We have seen a lot more younger families buying so they can enjoy more leisure time together."

The 30-acre site has access to a private beach and is a short drive from Eastbourne and the scenic South Downs, which has recently been designated a National Park. There are 180 bays and 30 are for sale. Prices start from £18,000 for a secondhand, two-bedroom home rising to £310,000 for a luxury double-decker with a sea view.

The park has just been upgraded and has a new swimming pool, sports club, restaurant, sauna, gym and boat yard.

Alison Gregory, 44, and her husband David bought a three-bedroom home on the park last year, which was reduced from £145,000 to £120,000.

The couple live in Enfield, Middlesex but think nothing of making the two- to three-hour drive to their seaside bolt hole with their three daughters Georgia, 12, Sophie, 10, and Ella, four.

"It is such a hassle going abroad these days, " says Alison. "There's the travel time, expense and intense heat. We can have more holidays here.

"I have been here with the girls for the Easter break and had wonderful weather and my husband joins us for the weekends. We feel at home here. There is lots for the girls to do, the park is very safe and friends can easily come and visit."

Gladys and Peter Ranger, 68, own two homes on the park but live just 15 minutes away in Eastbourne. "We thought of getting one further away but we didn't see the point, " says Gladys.

"We bought our first four years ago for £26,000 and made it look like a cottage. We recently bought another for £21,000 to rent out.

"We have noticed a broad cross-section of people buying these homes, including best-selling novelist Martina Cole.

"I love it because I can just pop down for a swim in the pool or come just for lunch with my husband. Even though the properties don't rise in value ours has easily paid its way through rentals. We charge between £250 and £475 a week.

"My son and daughter-in-law come with the grandchildren and love it. It is also dog friendly, which makes a difference."

Tony Clish adds, "Prospects for a first-class rental return should prove exceptional in 2009.

Predictions of a domestic holiday boom are looking realistic as bookings are about 14 per cent higher than this time last year."

At 130-acre Skelwith Ford Holiday Park in Ambleside, the Lake District, safaris are being offered to view red squirrels, red deer, red foxes and red kites.

MORE INFORMATION:

For properties at Park Holidays visit www.ParkHolidaysUK.com or call 0800 138 0477.

Martello Beach Park is owned by Haulfryn Holiday Parks, which has 20 parks in North Wales, Devon, Cornwall and the South-east.

For more details visit www.haulfryn.co.uk or call 01323 761424.

For Skelwith Ford Holiday Park visit www.selwith.com or call 01539 432277.