Parkdean Resorts confirms record £140m investment programme

Parkdean Resorts, the UK’s largest holiday park operator, has announced that £140m is being spent nationwide at its parks as part of its biggest ever investment programme.

The investment will go towards new accommodation, new and upgraded activities and facilities, and installing park-wide Wi-Fi capability. Nationwide, the £140m investment will include more than 850 new caravans and lodges, new developments at 16 parks, and hundreds of refreshed and upgraded chalets and lodges with a brand-new look.

Thirteen parks have received new pitches and developments in 2022, and £6m has also been spent on connectivity projects, meaning that employee Wi-Fi has now been installed at 65 parks, with direct-to-van Wi-Fi to be available in 50 parks by the end of the year.

More than £13m has been invested in the company’s ‘Parks of the Future’ initiative. Three parks, Newquay in Cornwall, Southview in Skegness, and Naze Marine, in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, will benefit from upgraded facilities, as well as upgraded accommodation options, while Trecco Bay, Europe’s largest holiday park, will also benefit from a further round of enhancements.

In 2022, Parkdean will continue to roll out its brand partnerships, including Bear Grylls’ Survival Academy, Tots’ Breaks, and events and entertainment from Milkshake and Nickelodeon. After launching at its Trecco Bay and Camber Sands sites last year, Thunderbird Fried Chicken will also be launching in more parks this year.

Steve Richards, chief executive of Parkdean Resorts, said: “This investment is great news for our customers, staff and the local economies in which we operate. By investing in our parks, we’re not only improving the guest experience, we’re also ensuring that holidaymakers keep coming back year after year, spending money in local shops, attractions, pubs and restaurants, and supporting the communities that rely so heavily on tourism. 2021 was a huge year for staycations, and our teams will continue to go above and beyond to deliver phenomenal service for our guests, making sure that 2022 is even better.”

Parkdean Resorts has also launched 25 environment, society and governance commitments for 2025, including attracting and developing diverse talent, reducing CO2 by 25%, a 75% reduction in waste to landfill, and the publication of an annual report detailing how it will care for its parks, people and planet. As part of these commitments, the company is working on creating a blueprint for two sustainable parks in Dorset – Warmwell and Sandford – with successful initiatives to be rolled out across other parks within its estate in the future.

Parkdean Resorts owns and operate 66 holiday parks, with a freehold property footprint of 3,500 acres of land including forests, peatbogs, rivers, beaches and headlands. Its 33,000 pitches include a range of accommodation, from static caravans to luxury lodges and glamping, as well as touring and camping pitches.