North Yorkshire Council has granted planning approval for the addition of 22 static holiday caravans at the Blue Dolphin Holiday Park in Filey, despite concerns raised over the removal of a children’s play area.
The application, submitted by Haven Leisure, involves the installation of new caravan bases in various areas of the existing holiday park and will include the removal of existing play equipment.
The decision, issued in July 2025, follows planning officer assessments and recommendations, including input from environmental specialists. While the proposal sparked at least one objection from a site resident, the council determined that the project falls within the acceptable parameters for development on the site.
“The caravan site is big enough,” a resident who owns a caravan on the park stated in opposition. “The proposal had not been discussed with anyone and will limit the safe play areas.”
According to the approved plans, 16 caravan bases will be sited at Hill Top, with one located to the west of Hill Top, three to the south of Spruce Ridge, and two to the north of Spruce Ridge.
The three southern plots will be served by existing communal parking, while the remaining sites will each include two dedicated parking spaces and decking for the units.
Planning officers concluded that the proposed development does not extend the boundaries of the existing holiday park and therefore does not constitute a significant material intensification of use.
“The units are low-level structures and inoffensive, similar to existing structures in the park,” the planning report stated. “In this case, it is considered the units would sit neatly within the curtilage and be of an appropriate scale in relation to the wider area.”
According to The Scarborough News, the condition requiring a “habitat management and monitoring plan” was recommended by a council ecologist and was included as part of the approved conditions.
Additionally, before development can begin, a scheme for implementing the approved biodiversity gain plan must be submitted to and approved by the local planning authority.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality industry, this development reflects a continuing trend of maximizing existing space within established holiday parks rather than expanding site boundaries.
The emphasis on maintaining a visual match with existing units and integrating environmental safeguards underscores a balanced approach to capacity increases.
Operators considering similar upgrades may benefit from assessing underutilized areas of their sites while proactively addressing potential community concerns, particularly when shared amenities are affected.