Haven Leisure’s proposal to expand its Primrose Valley Holiday Park in Filey has been approved by North Yorkshire Council despite more than 150 objections from residents and local stakeholders.
The decision, made earlier this month, permits the addition of 58 new static caravan bases on the existing site, although the original plan sought approval for 74.
Council planning officers said the proposal would deliver “high-quality static caravan holiday accommodation” and “help meet the needs of the tourism industry.”
The new caravan pitches will include two parking spaces each, built adjacent to the individual pitches. Vehicular access to the development will be created by extending the park’s existing internal road layout.
According to a report by the BBC, objections were raised by Filey Town Council and local residents citing concerns about the loss of green space, limited public transport, potential flooding, visual impact, and increased traffic.
Filey Town Council said it objected to the plan over concerns about “visual impact, concerns about flooding, highways impact, loss of green space and insufficient public transport.”
Several residents and caravan owners expressed dissatisfaction with the expansion. Some noted that facilities at the park were already strained.
One resident said there were “already insufficient facilities on site for holiday makers” and expressed worry about “an increase in traffic at the main park and at the entrance and exit.”
Another added that “parking in general for the whole holiday village is already inadequate and the park is already overcrowded.”
Council planning officers stated that “this application does not extend the boundaries of the existing holiday park, and with this in mind, the proposal does not amount to a significant material intensification of use of the site.”
Earlier this year, six new static caravans were approved at the park despite similar objections.
For professionals in the outdoor hospitality and caravan industries, the Primrose Valley case highlights the balance councils must strike between supporting tourism growth and addressing local community concerns.
As demand for domestic leisure accommodation continues to rise, operators seeking expansion may face increasing scrutiny over infrastructure capacity, transport links, and environmental impact—factors that are becoming central to planning approvals across the UK.