Plans have been submitted to East Suffolk Council that could see more than 300 new caravan pitches created at Pontins Pakefield Holiday Village near Lowestoft. The proposal comes as the site continues to house workers constructing the Sizewell C nuclear power station.
Since January, the holiday park has undergone refurbishment to provide accommodation for around 500 construction workers. This arrangement is expected to last throughout the 10-year construction period for Sizewell C. The existing chalet accommodation is already in use, but the new proposal seeks to expand capacity.
Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, owners of Pakefield Holiday Village, have submitted an application through agents Quod to develop approximately 10 hectares of land south of the site.
The plans include 340 touring caravan pitches, two facility blocks, a bus pick-up and drop-off point, space for 25 buses, access roads, drainage, landscaping, and associated infrastructure.
According to the documents, the pitches will initially be used to accommodate Sizewell C workers before transitioning to tourist use once the nuclear power station project is complete.
A statement in support of the application said:
“It represents a deliverable, policy-compliant, and landscape-responsive project that will deliver tangible and lasting benefits to Pakefield and the surrounding community. This proposal represents a well-considered addition to Pakefield Holiday Village that supports local economic development, sustainable travel, and increased tourism accommodation choice.”
The development has been designed to allow for a transition to leisure use after construction. Documents state:
“The development has been designed with flexibility and legacy in mind, allowing a seamless transition into a fully leisure-focused destination once the construction phase concludes.”
According to The Lowestoft Journal, the proposal also notes rising demand for touring caravan pitches linked to domestic tourism and staycations. The site’s coastal location is described as “strategically positioned to capture visitors.”
If approved, construction of the new pitches is expected to take six to nine months. The applicant has stated its intention to begin as soon as possible to meet Sizewell C’s demand for accommodation. East Suffolk Council is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks.
For operators in the outdoor hospitality industry, the project highlights how large-scale infrastructure developments can create both immediate and long-term opportunities.
In this case, the dual-use approach—worker housing followed by leisure accommodation—offers a potential model for parks seeking ways to balance short-term demand with long-term tourism growth.
It also illustrates how partnerships between major infrastructure projects and holiday park operators can deliver investment in facilities that remain valuable for decades.