lodges

Editor Victoria Galligan spoke to Willerby product managers Rob Lawrence and Phil Parks about the success of the company, and its new-for-2019 models…

Based in Hull and employing more than 1,000 people, Willerby recently announced year-on-year sales growth of 12.7%. Here, the product managers explain what goes on behind-the-scenes at the firm’s innovation division, and why the brand is (after 70 years) the UK’s largest manufacturer of holiday homes and lodges.

Market-leader Willerby, and leading distributor Southern Counties Leisure have announced they will host the second ever joint holiday home show on the 2nd - 7th October.

After the success of its launch last year, the show will take place once again at Crealy Adventure Park in Exeter, where Willerby will unveil its  2019 collection of holiday homes, lodges and park homes. The homes on show will include brand new models such as the Linwood & Waverley holiday homes, and is the first opportunity for members of the public in the South of England to see the new models.

Savills, on behalf of private owners, has brought Upton Lakes and Lodges in Cullompton, Devon to the market at a guide price of £995,000.

Set across 14.9 acres (6.02 hectares), the site comprises a total of 14 lodges;  five park owned that are let on a weekly basis and included in the sale, alongside nine that are privately owned and pay an annual pitch fee. There is currently planning permission for up to 20 lodges on the park, offering the potential to develop a further six units.

Here, Nick Glaves explores the story behind  Victory Leisure Homes' new models and the cyclical process which incorporates trade shows, customer feedback, design and build...

With new or updated models launched every year by major manufacturers, the holiday home and lodge industry is anything but static.

Indeed, almost as soon as next year’s models have been launched, work gets underway on the following year’s, meaning the merry-go-round of product design, development and launch never ends. 

It is a cycle Peter Nevitt knows only too well. Peter is the managing director of Victory Leisure Homes and has more than 40 years’ experience in the industry, much of that time successfully heading up Cosalt Holiday Homes.

Hot tubs and water hygiene: by Dorian Davies from Darlly Europe

The publication of the HSE's "The control of legionella and other infectious agents in spa-pool systems", more commonly known as "HSG282", in January 2017 caused a stir in the holiday caravan, lodge, and cottage sector as it set out specific and detailed guidelines for hot tubs installed in holiday let situations. HSG282 also placed risk responsibility on the shoulders of holiday let owners and operators to ensure their installations are HSG282 compliant.

Thinking of buying or selling a caravan park? Richard Prestwich from Savills property services’ leisure and trade team gives his view on the holiday and home park market for 2018…

Last year was a particularly strong year for the holiday and home park market, which encompasses touring parks, holiday static parks and residential parks, driven predominantly by domestic investment as the popularity of staycations continued to increase. According to research from Ortus Secured Finance, turnover at the 100 largest holiday parks was up 9% from £2.46billion in 2012 to £2.7billion last year.