More than 100 new jobs could be created following an operator’s £15m refurbishment of one of its luxury holiday parks in Wales.
Luxury Lodges has started the first phase of its development at its site in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, and plans to open a £5m clubhouse in 2019.
The firm plans to expand the park – one its five sites – from 77 to 125 self-catering lodges and upgrade its spa, the BBC reported.
“Laugharne is a really important and loved part of the portfolio which is why we are investing so heavily in updating its facilities,” said Ross Grieve, Luxury Lodges managing director.
“We are excited to grow the team and work more closely with the local community as this project develops.”
Council chiefs in West Sussex have been rejected plans to build a holiday park, claiming the 23-unit site “breaks from the district’s development plan”.
Members of Horsham District Council’s planning committee feared that the proposed park in Cowfold would have an adverse effect on the site’s ecology levels.
Councillor Jonathan Chowen said: “Ten years ago we would have gone ahead with this application and would have been happy with it. But now we care about woodland and ecology far more.
“This is significantly good woodland. If we do not protect our wildlife, what sort of world will we live in? “This is where we should take our stance,” reported the West Sussex County Times.
The plans sought permission for 23 caravan pitches, which would be sold and be for the exclusive use of their owners and their families.
However, councillors felt the new units would serve as ‘secondary homes’ rather than holiday lodges. Mr Chowen added: “This application is for holiday lodges but really they are for secondary homes for some people. “When we are worried about homelessness and housing shortages should we really be thinking about secondary homes?”
Members of the committee were supportive of plans to economically grow the site, but many felt the ecological reasons ‘outweighed’ any potential economic improvements.
Residents of an Essex town are hopeful that a caravan park could be given a new lease of life when it is taken over by new management.
Brightlingsea residents are unhappy with the state of Lakeside Caravan Park and it was even suggested that it could be turned into a car park for the town. However, the town council now says that a new leaseholder for the site could be in place by the end of the month.
Graham Steady, town councillor who deals with amenity areas and open spaces, told the Colchester News the new leaseholder has suggested renovating Lakeside Caravan Park, which is great news for the town.
He said: “The camp site is owned by the town council and is leased out. The tenant has a repairing lease which means he is responsible for maintenance and improvements.
“He is in the process of selling that lease which he is allowed to do under the Tenant and Landlord Act. The potential new owner, who has another site, has given an undertaking that issues will be addressed.”
