A MULTI-million-pound upgrade and expansion of Sandy Bay Holiday Park to ‘increase customer privacy’ has been rubberstamped by district planners.

A MULTI-million-pound upgrade and expansion of Sandy Bay Holiday Park to ‘increase customer privacy’ has been rubberstamped by district planners.

Last week East Devon District Council’s Development Management Committee approved plans that will see the holiday park attempt to attract ‘higher spending’ social groups while simultaneously retaining their current customer base.

The plans will see the holiday park redevelop, relocate and upgrade accommodation, change of use of land for the siting of carvans, a refreshment kisok and toilets, landscape enhancements and an expansion of 13 acres - but not the numbers of visitors.

“…high density caravan parks….closely grouped…has a fast diminishing customer appeal,” reads a district council report.

“Visitors…expect greater privacy…”

Last year Devon Cliffs parent company Haven announced it hoped to spend �25 million on improving the popular award-winning holiday destination over the next ten years.

The holiday park is Exmouth’s single largest private employer; and county tourism chiefs say that their 480 full and part time staff represents six percent of the total number of employees working in East Devon’s tourist sector, currently estimated at around 8,000.

The five star holiday park was 10 years old last year and spending by visitors to Devon Cliffs during the 2009 season was worth �27,389 to the district economy.

“Of the park expenditure of an estimated �16,825,000 by Devon Cliffs customers is not only important to other business in Exmouth area but benefits the district visitor economy much more widely,” it adds.

Town manager Tony Collins at a previous town council meeting said: “Devon Cliffs has continually demonstrated its importance…to Exmouth…from the large numbers of visitors (to)…promoting Exmouth.

“Its future continued success is of vital interest to Exmouth. No business can stand still but has to continually invest in itself to be successful.

“The business plan supporting this application is based on providing a ‘top end’ experience in Exmouth distinguishing it from many rivals around the coast.

“From an economic perspective I support this application.”

Exmouth Cllr Geoff Chamberlain said: “I think it is a splendid proposal.

“It is doing Exmouth a big favour in terms of increased economic development.”

Cllr Mike Green: “I would like to see state-of-the-art lighting…the caravans should be dark colours to blend in with the back ground.”