HOW HARPA SUPPORTS A STRONG PARK SECTOR

The Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA) represents 3,000 park businesses across the UK, helping them respond to a complex and evolving operating environment. We work alongside our members to promote good practice, share expertise and address the practical challenges that affect parks day to day.

A key part of our role is engaging with policymakers on issues that directly impact the sector, including taxation, planning and regulation. We create opportunities for decision-makers to hear firsthand from park owners and operators about the contribution parks make to local economies and communities. At our Westminster conference in January, more than 20 MPs met with members to discuss these issues and the realities of running parks.

This work is supported by our Parks Make Places campaign, launched in 2025. The campaign highlights the social and economic value parks deliver all year round, from supporting local employment and tourism to providing much-needed accommodation and community spaces.

Following this campaign, a YouGov poll of MPs found that 76% now agree that the holiday parks sector delivers social value, an increase from 67% the previous year, highlighting growing recognition among policymakers of the tangible contribution parks make to the communities in which they are based. Alongside our policy work, we provide members with practical support to help them operate successfully.

This includes access to training programmes, webinars, conferences, a telephone helpline and specialist advice. Members also benefit from opportunities to connect with peers, share experiences and learn from one another. Our Next Generation Network continues to grow, bringing members together through meetings, online forums and park visits.

It is open to anyone working in the sector, regardless of age, experience or role. Now in our 76th year, our Association remains as committed as ever to championing the industry and supporting our members to thrive.

HARPA
01452 526911
www.harpa.org.uk

AA REVEALS TOP UK STAYCATION SPOTS FOR 2025…

As UK travel trends continue to favour local and sustainable tourism, the annual AA Caravan & Camping Awards have announced the top outdoor accommodation spots for the 2024-25 season.

This year’s winners offer the best of scenic retreats and luxurious glamping, with a new Sustainable Park award showing a growing preference for eco-friendly and unique staycations among UK travellers. The awards celebrated 12 exceptional sites across the country, selected by the AA’s expert inspectors for their outstanding quality and commitment to customer satisfaction.

Categories included AA Glamping Site of the Year, AA Campsite of the Year, and AA Most Improved Campsite of the Year. This year’s winners span the UK, from the rich history and sweeping views from the Isle of Anglesey in Wales to the stunning ancient woodlands nestled within the South Downs of West Sussex.

Hosting the awards, Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, said, “As local travel continues to grow and sustainable tourism gains momentum, we are excited to announce the best camping and caravanning destinations for the upcoming year.

This year’s winners have demonstrated outstanding quality along with a strong dedication to eco-friendly practices and customer satisfaction, making them excellent options for UK travellers.” All winners of the awards feature in the 57th edition of the AA Caravan & Camping Guide, which is £14.99 and available to buy in bookshops now.

Congratulations to all 2024-25 winners, the full list of this year’s AA Caravan and Camping Awards winners can also be found on RatedTrips.com.

Rated Trips by AA Media
The UK’s top campsites and caravan parks for 2025 | AA RatedTrips.com

EXPANSION GETS THE GO AHEAD

EXPANSION GETS THE GO AHEAD

The multi-million expansion of a south Pembrokeshire holiday park, that will create dozens of new jobs and provide a welcome boost for regional tourism and leisure, has been given the green light by Pembrokeshire County Council. The proposed development at the Heritage Park, Stepaside, will be delivered by Heritage Leisure Development (Wales) Ltd.

It will result in the provision of 48 new, high-quality holiday lodges, along with an equestrian centre, five-star leisure spa, café, and cycle hire facility. The £6 million project will expand the local tourism offer while also breathing new life into a former pub, craft village and animal farm that have been abandoned and vacant for a number of years.

Heritage Park sits within a popular tourism location, attracting high levels visitors due to its close proximity to the seaside resort of Tenby as well as other local attractions and towns, including Saundersfoot. According to the Welsh Government, Pembrokeshire is ranked as the fifth overall most visited local authority in Wales, with millions of people coming to the region from within the UK and overseas annually.

The proposed development will provide a significant boost to the local economy in this area. An economic impact assessment estimates that people staying at the site are expected to spend significantly within the area, and together with Park spending, there will be an extra nearly £1 million additional expenditure in the local economy each year. Jobs will also be created during construction phase of the development, which is now expected to start next year.

These will be in addition to a number of full-time and part-time jobs that will be created once the park and the other the associated leisure facilities fully open for business. Working on behalf of the owner and operator, Helen Ashby-Ridgway, planning director at the Cardiff office of planning and development consultancy Lichfields, said Heritage Park is well-deserving of its 5* Visit Wales award.

Karl Watson, owner of Heritage Leisure Development, added: “We’re clearly delighted to have secured approval, which marks the next phase in ambitious proposals to provide top quality hospitality and leisure facilities in south Pembrokeshire for holiday- makers and visitors. This project will also breathe new life into a location that’s ready to be transformed, signalling a new chapter for the local area and creating opportunities and jobs for local people.”