Families get in line as holiday caravan sales soar in Devon

Waiting lists for would-be holiday home buyers are being put in place at many of the six holiday parks in Devon operated by Park Holidays UK.

The group says it regrets that some customers are being asked to remain patient until new stocks of holiday homes are delivered, and extra pitches developed.

Director Tony Clish reports that demand for holiday lodges and caravans has been "unprecedented in our 25-year history" throughout the autumn and winter months.

As a result, he said, the company has had to introduce temporary measures across its 30-plus holiday parks to maintain fair-play for hopeful buyers:

"This has included asking customers to bear with us if their ideal holiday home or preferred location on the park can't be provided immediately," said Mr Clish.

"However, they have the assurance that names are being entered on our waiting lists in strictly the order in which they are received, and that there will be no queue jumping."

The group's six Devon parks are in Barnstable (Tarka Holiday Park), Brixham (Riviera Bay Holiday Park and Landscove Holiday Park), Dawlish (Dawlish Sands Holiday Park and Golden Sands Holiday Park), and Paignton (Waterside Holiday Park).

According to Mr Clish, the group has placed orders for hundreds of new holiday homes with British manufacturers with deliveries already starting to take place.

On top of this, hundreds of additional pitches will be created across the group's parks, including some earmarked for prestigious new holiday lodge developments.

"We fully realise that all new buyers will be keen to start enjoying their holiday homes as soon as possible next year, and we're working hard to make this a reality," said Mr Clish.

"Thanks to our purchasing power, Park Holidays UK will be the first in line to receive the new holiday homes now on order, so we are confident that the wait will soon be over.

"We have also introduced a system to allow customers to reserve a holiday caravan or lodge immediately for a £1,000 deposit, and not have to pay the balance until January 2021.

"As a thank-you, we will also waive all of their pitch fees for next year," he said.

More information about holiday home ownership can be found at www.ParkHolidays.com