Leading manufacturer Willerby has launched two new models to fill an important gap in the park home and lodge markets.
Willerby’s New Forest was one of the new models revealed for the first time at Scotland’s largest caravan and holiday home show in Glasgow.
The New Forest’s design and key features have been influenced by market research and a major survey exploring what matters most to people buying a residential park home.
Value for money, ease of maintenance and style were among the top requirements, with owners keen to avoid expensive refurbishment work without sacrificing on quality, style and comfort.
With its timeless colour palette and clean, classic interior design, the New Forest is a residential park home which features two bedrooms, a spacious living room and separate kitchen/dining space, and an ensuite bathroom to the master bedroom.
It’s the first Willerby park home – and one of the first from any major UK manufacturer – to be built to the new BS 3632 (2023) British Standard, which sets out updated regulations for the manufacture of residential park homes for use as permanent residences.
The new British Standard will be mandatory as of September this year but, with the New Forest now going into production, it means Willerby is ahead of the game when it comes to legislation.
The New Forest is cheaper to run and maintain than traditional or second hand park homes, without sacrificing any of the high-quality build and aesthetic which Willerby is renowned for.
Building to the BS 3632 (2023) standard ensures superior thermal efficiency, reducing the energy consumption and cost for the owner. A new high-grade steel-coated roof provides strength and weather protection, and the render effect cladding is easy to maintain and clean.
Released at an entry-level price point, the New Forest fills a much-needed gap in the residential park homes market – helping owners secure a brand-new home, rather than settle for a second-hand model.
The New Forest is available in two different sizes – 36ft x 20ft and 40ft x 20ft.
Willerby’s latest residential park home was unveiled at The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show at Glasgow’s SEC, a four-day consumer and trade event attracting tens of thousands of visitors to experience the latest products and innovations in the industry.
Willerby Product Manager James Burling said: “Following detailed feedback from owners and customers we’ve focused on three key areas with the New Forest – value for money, build quality and desirability.
“The New Forest is competitively priced to give customers an alternative to a second-hand park home.
“It offers all of the benefits of owning a brand new residential park home at a more affordable price, saving the cost, time and hassle of refurbishing and maintaining an older home.”
The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show also saw Willerby launch the special edition Boston, a spacious entry-level lodge which gives owners all the benefits of lodge living at a great value price.
The Boston comes as either a two-bedroom or three-bedroom lodge, both at 40ft x 20ft. The layout features improvements to open up new space in the kitchen and the bedroom dressing areas.
Balancing practicality with a modern style, the Boston’s colour scheme is on trend, with blush pink and graphite accents adding visual interest to a palette of khaki, grey and dark oak.
Willerby has designed both its new models to be low maintenance, with contemporary build materials delivering a consistently high-quality finish.
Willerby Sales Director Keith Holland said: “By launching new entry-level models to the market, we’re bringing a desirable lifestyle choice to more people, offering a superior alternative to second-hand units.
“The New Forest and Boston are stylishly designed, offering modern living spaces to which owners can add their own touches.
“We’re delighted to have launched two new models which will fill important gaps in the market, enabling even more people to realise their dream of owning a new park home or lodge and enjoy the fantastic lifestyle this offers.”
The design and build of both the New Forest and the Boston have been guided by consumer research, including feedback from existing park home owners, and a 2022 Government survey into the residential park sector.
In the Government survey of 1,500 residential park home owners, more than half of owners who had purchased a second-hand home had done so due to affordability.
However, many had subsequently carried out refurbishment work to bring the home up to date and match the interior to their style and tastes – an often expensive and time-consuming process.
Almost 40 per cent of the owners surveyed had replaced an old kitchen, with other common refurbishments including the bathroom, windows, doors and insulation.