In what is an ever-growing industry (and especially since COVID), Park Holidays UK are one the largest holiday park operators in the UK, offering caravan and lodge holidays, glamping breaks, touring and camping, and holiday home ownership. SDD have a long- standing relationship with Park Holidays and provide highways and transport support for a range of planning applications for both new sites and extensions to their existing ones.

SDD were first appointed to support a planning application for an extension to their existing Pakefield Holiday Park in Suffolk in January 2021. The holiday park, which is located just south of Lowestoft in Suffolk, originally comprised of 300 static caravan plots.

Due to a growing demand for static caravans, and also severe coastal erosion in this area, the planning application was submitted to provide an extension to the site, with an additional 86 static caravan plots proposed on land to the south of existing holiday park. This would allow for “roll back” as coastal plots were lost to erosion, plus additional new plots. The planning application, which was approved in March 2024, also included proposals for a new clubhouse and communal buildings.

Our work has consisted of an initial Highway Feasibility Note to the client to recommend a new access off the A12. We then undertook extensive consultation with Suffolk County Council (as the Local Highway Authority) to agree a safe and suitable access which could provide access to the site whilst not negatively impacting the existing highway conditions of the A12. Furthermore, a public consultation event was held in May 2022. Through collaboration with Park Holidays UK, the architects, and other disciplines, the finalised proposals were submitted in June 2022 supported by SDD’s Transport Statement.

Following the approval of the planning application earlier this year, we have more recently been assisting Park Holidays UK with Discharge of 7 Planning Conditions, S278 works and a Minor Works Licence to enable a construction access to be provided ASAP. In addition, the DoC work has also included finalising the location and provision of electric vehicle charging parking spaces at the holiday parks new state of the art clubhouse.

SDD continue to work with Park Holidays UK to support projects at 21 of their existing and potential future sites. The work carried out to support the application at Pakefield Holiday Park is just one of many ongoing projects, and we continue to try and push other DLP services where possible.