Fire Safety Regulations for Holiday Parks
Fire safety is one of the most critical compliance areas for holiday park operators in England and Wales. With caravans, lodges, communal buildings and high guest turnover, parks face unique fire‑risk challenges that require structured planning and strict adherence to regulation. Meeting fire‑safety obligations is not only a legal requirement — it protects guests, staff, assets and the long‑term reputation of the park. This guide explains what fire‑safety regulation means for holiday parks, when obligations apply, and the responsibilities operators must meet to remain compliant. What Are Fire Safety Regulations for Holiday Parks? Fire‑safety requirements for holiday parks are governed primarily by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies to all non‑domestic premises, including: The regulations require operators to: Because caravans and lodges are lightweight structures with combustible materials, fire can spread rapidly — making spacing, alarms and emergency planning essential. When Fire‑Safety Regulations Apply Fire‑safety duties apply: Operators must also review fire‑safety measures whenever: Operator Responsibilities Under Fire‑Safety Regulations Holiday park operators must meet a range of legal duties, including: 1. Fire‑Risk Assessments A written fire‑risk assessment is mandatory and must be: 2. Unit Spacing and Layout Correct spacing reduces the risk of fire spreading between units. Operators must ensure: 3. Fire‑Point Provision and Maintenance Fire points must include: 4. Smoke and CO Alarms in Rental Units All hire units must have: 5. Safe Escape Routes Operators must maintain: 6. Staff Training All staff — including seasonal workers — must understand: Local Authority Role & Inspections Local authorities and fire services may: Inspections may be scheduled or unannounced, particularly during peak season. Common Compliance Issues The most frequent fire‑safety problems found on holiday parks include: These issues often arise from rapid turnover, seasonal staffing and inconsistent internal checks. Key Takeaways for Park Operators
Planning Permission for Caravan Parks
Planning permission is one of the most important regulatory considerations for UK caravan and holiday park operators. It determines how land can be used, how many units can be sited, what facilities can be built, and the length of the operating season. Getting it right is essential for legal compliance, long‑term investment planning and avoiding costly enforcement action. This guide explains what planning permission means for caravan parks, when it is required, and the responsibilities operators must meet to remain compliant with local‑authority expectations. What Is Planning Permission for Caravan Parks? Planning permission is the formal approval from a local planning authority (LPA) that allows land to be used as a caravan or holiday park. It sets out: Planning permission works alongside the site licence. Both documents must align — the licence cannot permit anything that planning permission prohibits. When Planning Permission Is Required Planning permission is required for: Even small changes may require approval if they affect the character, capacity or environmental impact of the site. Operators should always check with the LPA before making alterations, as retrospective applications can be costly and may not be approved. Operator Responsibilities Under Planning Permission Holiday park operators must comply with all planning conditions, which may include: 1. Occupancy Restrictions Many parks have conditions limiting: Breaching occupancy rules is one of the most common enforcement issues. 2. Unit Numbers and Layout Operators must ensure: 3. Landscaping and Environmental Measures Conditions may require: 4. Infrastructure and Access Operators may need to maintain: 5. Record Keeping Operators should retain: These may be requested during inspections or enforcement investigations. Local Authority Role & Inspections Local planning authorities: Planning enforcement can include: Early engagement with the LPA helps avoid disputes and delays. Common Compliance Issues Typical planning‑permission problems for caravan parks include: These issues often arise from incremental changes over time, lack of documentation or misunderstanding of planning conditions. Key Takeaways for Park Operators Understanding planning‑permission requirements is essential for protecting your business and supporting sustainable growth.
Electrical Safety Obligations for Caravan Parks
Electrical safety is a critical compliance area for UK caravan and holiday park operators. With multiple accommodation units, communal buildings, outdoor lighting, EV chargers and high seasonal demand, parks must ensure that all electrical systems are safe, well‑maintained and compliant with UK regulations. This guide explains what electrical‑safety law requires from park operators, when inspections are needed, and the common issues that lead to enforcement action. What Are Electrical Safety Obligations for Caravan Parks? Holiday parks must comply with: These regulations require operators to ensure that: Electrical safety applies to: When Electrical Safety Duties Apply Electrical‑safety responsibilities apply: Operators must also review electrical safety after: Operator Responsibilities Under Electrical‑Safety Regulations 1. Periodic Inspection & Testing (EICR) Operators must ensure: Holiday parks typically require more frequent inspections due to high usage. 2. Safety of Touring Hook‑Ups Hook‑up points must be: 3. Electrical Safety in Rental Units Operators must ensure: 4. Maintenance of Communal Facilities Electrical systems in: must be inspected and maintained to prevent risk. 5. Competent Contractors Only qualified electricians should: Local Authority Role & Inspections Local authorities may: The Health and Safety Executive may also become involved in serious incidents. Common Compliance Issues Frequent electrical‑safety problems include: These issues often arise from seasonal pressures and high turnover of guests. Key Takeaways for Park Operators
The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show 2026| Industry Event
The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show returns this June to the NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, bringing together one of the most targeted and engaged audiences in the sector — both Trade and Public. This isn’t just another date in the calendar. It’s the moment when buyers are at their most open, most curious, and most ready to make decisions that shape future developments. What sets the show apart is its unapologetically hands‑on experience. Visitors step inside real homes, speak directly with manufacturers, and interact with products in a way no digital platform can match. They compare models, ask detailed questions, and immerse themselves in the lifestyle — often for the first time. Why It Matters for Every Corner of the Industry For parks: It’s the moment visitors picture themselves living or holidaying on your site — whether leisure or residential. For manufacturers: Your craftsmanship is experienced first‑hand by the people who matter most: park owners, landowners, developers, and decision‑makers. For suppliers and service providers: Your products and solutions become part of the visitor’s vision for their next project. For industry experts: Your knowledge becomes the bridge between curiosity and confidence, helping buyers make informed choices. The show remains the sector’s most powerful catalyst for meaningful connection — where conversations start, relationships form, and future sales take shape. Flexible Opportunities for Exhibitors Exhibitors can participate in several ways: As the organisers put it: “Our show offers the entire industry an unparalleled opportunity to build early relationships and influence buying decisions. It’s where conversations begin, trust is built, and future sales take shape.” Be Part of the Industry’s Most Important Gathering The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show continues to be the sector’s key annual meeting point — where parks, manufacturers, suppliers, and experts come together to shape the future of the industry. If you’d like to get involved, simply get in touch: 📧 organisers@parkandleisurehomeshows.co.uk 🌐 www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk 📞 07917 131681
New Victory Leisure Homes lodge has the wow factor
Victory Leisure Homes has launched a ‘game-changing’ holiday home designed to inject a wow factor into the marketplace. The Lakewood Lodge is the most innovative product in the company’s 10-year history, combining Victory’s renowned build quality with pioneering manufacturing techniques and higher quality materials. The holiday home’s innovative design and contemporary layout are the result of extensive consultation with Victory’s customers, to create a product with a more robust and domestic feel. The Lakewood Lodge, which was officially unveiled at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2020, has been designed to meet the changing needs of the holiday home and lodge market by placing a strong emphasis on comfort and luxury. Managing Director, Gary Corlyon, said the model features a range of new-to-market manufacturing techniques devised and perfected by Victory Leisure Homes. These include: Beadless internal wall system. The internal walls in the Lakewood Lodge feature the first truly beadless system to be developed for holiday homes, utilising flush-fitting panels butt joint wrapped wallboard. This produces a high-quality finish to the interior, unmatched by any other model presently on the market, and the thicker internal walls – 38mm – bring greater robustness and thermal efficiency. Virtual beadless ceiling The virtual beadless ceiling has been designed to match the walls, giving a much higher-quality interior finish. This has been achieved via tongue and groove jointing. Replacing chipboard flooring with a composite OSB board with high comprehensive strength insulation. This brings added strength to the flooring, as well as much greater thermal efficiency. Despite these market-leading construction improvements, Gary said the most noticeable difference in the Lakewood Lodge is the contemporary interior and layout, designed to attract a new type of customer discovering holiday home living for the first time. The model also has a striking glass front which produces an airy feel and allows spectacular views of the holiday home’s surroundings. Staycationers demand luxury living Gary said: “The trend for staycations is only going to increase, particularly as people are more conscious about the environmental impact of flying, so a new type of holidaymaker, eager to embrace the holiday home living, is starting to emerge. “These might be young families or professional couples who enjoy the outdoors and staying in off-the-beaten-track locations. “One thing they all have in common, however, is the expectation of high-quality accommodation, with comfort and luxury that surpasses their own home. “That is what we have created in the Lakewood Lodge. We have worked closely with our customers to design a product with real wow factor that will meet the changing demands of the marketplace. “We believe the Lakewood Lodge is a game-changer for the industry.” Gary added that with the new model, Victory Leisure Homes is pushing to become one of the most innovative manufacturers in the holiday home and lodge sector. To facilitate this, the company has appointed a new senior management team, new design team and overhauled its manufacturing processes. He said: “This model is a step-change for us; it heralds the future direction of Victory Leisure Homes. “But this is just the start. We’re going through a transformational process that will see us go from traditional and safe to contemporary, luxurious and innovative. “It is this step-change that will underpin future growth at Victory Leisure Homes.” Photos: Gary Corlyon, managing director of Victory Leisure Homes, and the new Lakewood Lodge holiday home.
Luxury accommodation – it’s time to bring the bling!
When it comes to the holiday park industry, accommodation is king – if your customers aren’t happy and comfortable in their surroundings, then why would they return? Parks are constantly investing in the best and most advanced accommodation available, from luxury safari tents to huge party palaces – and here editor Victoria Galligan takes a look at what’s going to boost booking numbers in 2020… Over the past two decades, the glamping phenomenon has taken the UK holiday industry to a whole new level. With glampsites competing to offer the most luxurious places to stay – albeit in the middle of a field, as visitors still want to experience that back-to-nature vibe! –a knock-on effect has been seen across the whole holiday industry. While there will always be a demand for budget accommodation, research has shown that the public are willing to pay more for luxury accommodation – coupled with a greater choice in locations, flexible booking options and top-notch on-site facilities. Holidays taken close to home, often for just one or two nights, are becoming increasing popular and have been labelled “bubble breaks”. Earlier this year, the UK Camping and Caravanning Alliance report Pitching the Value identified “attracting younger generation through product offering e.g. glamping and quality accommodation” as one of the main opportunities which the holiday industry could capitalise on. It also stated that the lack of variety available in high-quality accommodation was currently one of the industry’s weaknesses. Capitalising on the “bubble break” is vital for businesses – Sykes Cottages has done its own research on the rise in luxury breaks, reporting: “We’ve seen the popularity of luxury holiday homes go through the roof as Britons look for affordable, but indulgent, holidays closer to home – which is why we offer more than 1,000 properties with hot tubs and swimming pools across the UK. “Britons are seeking opportunities to staycation in weird and wonderful properties across the UK. We’ve got over 400 converted barns, 950 properties situated on a farm, 21 shepherd’s huts, 30 converted chapels or churches, six yurts and even one converted water tank and one converted railway carriage.” And with both spending figures and domestic trip numbers up, the staycation is proving it’s here to stay. In the first half of the year, Visit Britain reported a rise in domestic trips – up to 56.4million from January to June, a rise of 2% on the same period last year. Creating a luxury destination Away Resorts is one business which is leading the way in providing top-class facilities. It has completed two major refurbishment projects so far this year, at woodland retreat Sandy Balls Holiday Village, in the New Forest, and lakeside retreat Tattershall Lakes Country Park. The operator said the £10 million refurbishment at luxury forest destination Sandy Balls marked “the introduction of the most luxurious holiday lodges ever seen at a UK holiday park”. The range of new accommodation there includes the Knightwood, named after the largest oak tree in the New Forest. Carl Castledine, CEO of Away Resorts, said: “For those who – because of this uncertainty and travel to Europe this year – are looking to stay in the UK, but are used to luxury, we wanted to create an accommodation choice for our New Forest Holiday Village that was beautifully indulgent, and that would rival the most luxurious accommodation in European holiday villages. “So, we came up with the Knightwood – named after the largest and arguably most famous, oak tree in the New Forest. “The exterior to the holiday home features a hot tub, which is yours and yours alone; a heated outdoor seating area, where the evening can carry on long after the sun has dipped; and a dog shower for the family’s furry friend who may have got a little muddy on their walk through the Forest. And don’t forget the bike racks. “The interior is inspired by its forest surroundings with all of the fixtures, fittings and furniture having a wood-like feel; effectively bringing the outside in.” Away Resorts teamed up with holiday home manufacturer Willerby to create the Knightwood. Willerby product manager Phil Parks said: “The Knightwood really takes design and layout to the next level, this offered us the perfect opportunity to be creative and showcase what the Willerby team can do. “It is projects like this that have helped make Willerby synonymous with innovative design, stylish interiors, and above all, exceptional quality standards.” Meanwhile, Tattershall Lakes has seen the completion of a £5.25 million project. A new skyline bar, splash zone, beach and luxury accommodation were added. Paying a premium for luxury accommodation Luxury lodges have stepped up a gear for 2020. No longer content with a mere wooden roof over their heads, glampers want bling – and are willing to pay the premium. I caught up with LTF Pods at the Innovation Diversification event in South Wales in September and was blown away by the standards inside the pods – fitted kitchens and wet rooms are included so guests can avoid the wash-block trips and have the convenience of cooking too. Sofa beds and folding bunks provide solid sleeping arrangements and the décor inside and out makes the pods feel more like tiny cottages. New luxury lodge brand Eco-Signature is raising the bar – by quite a distance! Founder Karen Sheflin says the idea to ramp up the style factor was a no-brainer: “When we saw that demand for luxury holiday homes and lodges has risen by 39% and properties with hot tubs earn 54% more than that (not to mention that those with open fires boosts revenue by a further 14%), it was evident that a niche in the market exists that has yet to be regulated and needs to be developed. “Our vast experience in the hospitality industry led us to develop something that is the first of its kind. A sustainable, eco-luxury lodge with integrated advanced technology that is commercially viable and has been designed with a modern
