Local democracy reporter Bradley Gerrard reports that a major Devon holiday park is applying to extend its opening period to benefit from an additional school holiday.
A holiday park in Exmouth that welcomes thousands of visitors each year is asking the district council to allow it to stay open through the winter. Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, located at Sandy Bay in Exmouth, has applied to open from February 1 to January 14 each year, enabling it to host guests during the February half-term. Currently the park opens on February 28, meaning it misses the first school holiday of the calendar year. According to Haven, it usually closes in November, with some festive breaks in December.
The park, which dates back to the 1970s, said it is not seeking any other changes. The extra opening weeks, if granted, would help protect existing jobs and contribute to the area's economic growth. In its application, the park stressed that no new development is proposed, and that the move is purely aimed at bolstering the business and the wider region.
Haven Leisure, which owns Devon Cliffs, described itself as a "highly significant contributor" to British tourism. The company operates 39 holiday parks across England, Scotland and Wales and employs around 14,000 staff. It added that approximately 3.9 million holidaymakers visited Have parks in 2025, with a prediction that this will surpass four million this year.
The firm's application to East Devon District Council stated: "These visitors bring direct investment to the parks and their staff but also create further investment to local economies and communities, generated by Haven’s visitors." It continued: "On this basis, the parks, many of which are located near the seaside, play a critical role in tourist focused, seasonal economies. Expanding the occupancy period would further support these economies and reduce seasonal inequality in investment and employment opportunities."
Across Devon, there are widespread efforts to extend the so-called 'shoulder seasons' – the periods on either side of the main summer rush. Tourism businesses are increasingly focusing on attracting visitors during spring and autumn, with some aiming to welcome holidaymakers as early in the year as possible.
Responding to the bid to expand Devon Cliffs' opening dates, a Haven spokesperson said that if approved, it would "give our guests more opportunities to enjoy everything the park and the beautiful Devon coast have to offer". The spokesperson added: "Extending our season will not only allow more people to experience a Haven break outside the summer months, but also help bring more visitors to the area during the quieter seasons, supporting local businesses and the wider Devon tourism economy."
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