MDL Marinas Group has submitted a planning application to Babergh District Council to expand accommodation offerings at Woolverstone Marina and Lodge Park, located near Ipswich in Suffolk.
The proposal includes the development of 24 new holiday units, comprising 15 lodge-style caravans and 14 glamping structures. The expansion would involve removing six existing industrial buildings currently used by a sail repair business to make way for the new accommodations.
According to the Ipswich Star, the expansion is a response to a continued increase in demand for holiday accommodations in the region since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Unprecedented levels” of demand were cited by the applicant as a key driver for the proposal, following the addition of eight lodges to the site in 2023, several of which were listed for sale.
The new caravan lodges are planned to measure approximately 40 feet in length and 20 feet in width, while the glamping units would each be about 20 feet by 10 feet.
The development is planned for a section of the marina adjacent to the main access road, replacing what the applicant described as “old and unsightly industrial buildings.”
The application also notes that the marina site could physically accommodate more units, but the developer opted for a lower-density plan to preserve the site’s character and market positioning.
“Whilst the site subject to this planning application could accommodate a larger development, it is important for the applicant to maintain a degree of exclusivity that a lower density will achieve,” the proposal states.
For outdoor hospitality business owners, this case reflects a continued trend in the UK market toward hybrid accommodations—integrating traditional caravan offerings with glamping units to diversify revenue streams.
The plan’s emphasis on low-density development and the removal of underutilized infrastructure may offer a model for other operators seeking to reposition or modernize their sites in response to shifting consumer preferences.