Sales up at North East caravan parks

Monday, 22 March 2010 09:49

SALES at a caravan park firm have jumped by more than 30% in the last year as hard-up holiday makers continue to stay put rather than jet off into the sun.

Northumbrian Leisure said that its turnover had broken the £3m barrier and it is continuing to invest in the redevelopment and expansion of its £15m holiday park portfolio.

The company, which employs 20 staff, expects to complete the £1.2m redevelopment of its Sandhaven park in South Shields this year, which is two years ahead of schedule. It will see the number of static caravans at the site increase from 51 to 80.

This is in addition to the £5m redevelopment of its flagship Golden Sands park at Cresswell on the Northumberland coast, which is expected to create 40 jobs when it is completed.

Nigel Thompson, who owns the company with his wife Sandra and also operates sites near Bamburgh and Warkworth in Northumberland, said: "The downturn has continued to have a positive impact on the business, but we are not resting on our laurels."