The park sites bouncing back after lockdown
THE holiday and property industries have both been severely affected by lockdown. Hotels and tourist attractions had to close as we were told to stay at home, and property viewings and moves were cancelled to help avert the spread of coronavirus.
Now both industries are finding their feet again in this new socially-distanced era, and one sector that combines both is finding that the ‘new normal’ is something for which it is quite well suited.
The park homes sector comprises homes for either residential or holiday use that are, arguably, the epitome of social distancing. All are easily accessible by car and the plots for each dwelling are surrounded by open space. In communal areas – where residents, holidaymakers and staff mix – social-distancing measures have been introduced, but the chief attractions of the parks remain the same: the homes and their picturesque surroundings.
The unique nature of these parks has allowed them to bounce back as lockdown has been relaxed.
Thomas Johnson and his wife Lorraine recently moved into a residential bungalow at Westover Park in Carmarthenshire.
‘Obviously the lockdown situation isn’t ideal but we have boxes to unpack, so we have been rather busy,’ Thomas says.
‘We have managed to meet up and have a chat – from a safe distance – with many of the park residents, and everyone is super-friendly and so helpful.’
Thomas and Lorraine have bought a two-bedroom bungalow at the Wyldecrest Parks site, after leaving their three-storey Birmingham home.
‘I used to lay floors for a living but recently have had major problems with my back,’ Thomas says. ‘Basically, my doctors told me that I had to stop or else there were high chances that I would end up in a wheelchair. My wife has a problem with her knee and will need a replacement at some point. Going up and down two flights of stairs did take its toll.’
Wyldecrest’s 80-plus sites around Britain, which are havens for nature and convenient bases for outdoor pursuits, are specifically designed for over-50s.
Willow Park, an independent site in Warwickshire that is open for 11 months of the year, reports that business is picking up since the lockdown, and co-owner Kelly Broadway points out that difficulties in travelling now mean people now love staycations.
‘I think a lots of people have re-evaluated their lifestyle and made many changes, feeling more comfortable holidaying in the UK,’ she says. ‘We have noticed a big interest in our luxury lodges and have made several sales since June.’
Willow Park has five different show homes priced between £179,990 and £239,900.
For a choice of locations for holidays, Parkdean has 67 sites across the country, and it has introduced a range of social-distancing measures.
As well as offering lodges and caravans on the sites for holidays, Parkdean also has lodges for sale as holiday homes, so purchasers have somewhere they can take a break when they choose.