Member Article

New owners at Otley caravan park plot expansion following £640k funding package

St Helena’s Caravan Park in Otley is poised for expansion after being taken over by new owners who have also agreed a six-figure funding package.

The caravan park was snapped up by Rob and Sally Rushworth with help from a £640k funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, and now have ambitious plans to keep the park open all year.

Plans for the park, which the pair say will facilitate new staff hires, include developing new glamping facilities, the creation of cycling and rambling routes, and hiring four weekend and cleaning staff in the new year.

The Rushworths have a long history with the park as it was Rob’s dad, John Rushworth who founded St Helena’s Caravan Park in 1940, which has now grown to encompass 40 residential plots and 60 touring plots with a turnover of £170k.

Speaking about how they came about to buy the site, Sally said: “My partner Rob used to work on the caravan site when he was a boy, and it was important that we kept the park within the family.

“When the park was put up for sale 18 months ago, we talked to our accountant who referred us to Lloyds Bank, and they were very helpful in supporting us with the purchase of the site.

“We are now in a position to improve the park’s offering to residents and visitors, and develop on what John began more than 70 years ago.”

Steve Dale, relationship Director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said that the Rushworth’s history with the site meant the bank was confident that in tandem they would be able to take the campsite to ‘the next level’ over the next few years.

Touching upon Lloyd’s wider lending activities, he added: “Lloyds Bank is committed to supporting small businesses like St Helena’s by increasing net lending to SMEs by more than £1 billion during 2016, building on six years of consistent lending growth.”