Park life

Single-storey living usually means a bungalow. These quintessential British homes are a legacy of Empire and the Raj, with the word derived from the Hindi ‘bangla’, meaning ‘house in the Bengal style’.
They first appeared in South London in 1860 and spread, much as suburbia did, in the 1920s. As the popularity of bungalows grew, so it was inevitable that other forms of single-storey building would follow.
One of these was the mobile home. Although they are anything but mobile, except when being delivered from the manufacturer, on the back of a lorry, to the desired residential site. The description, however, still stirs memories of wet family holidays and trudging through mud in a remote field to use the communal toilets.

Out of date views
“Such views are 40 years out of date”, says Pauline Bruton, who has established a comprehensive website devoted to park homes, as they are now universally known. “Unfortunately, the strict legal definition remains ‘mobile home’. But you only have to look at today’s park home to see there is little that fits with the old-fashioned concept.
“A park home now compares very favourably to a spacious, modern, detached bungalow, fitted out to a high standard with every possible convenience and often considerable luxury.”
Pauline explains that the only difference between a park home and a conventional house, or bungalow, is in the method of construction. Once inside, there is no difference at all. “Park homes are built to their own British Standard 3632 and are intended for all year-round occupation,” she explains. “They are manufactured in modern factories and constructed of a timber frame, which sits on a steel chassis. The materials used are designed for performance, durability and minimum maintenance.They also have the benefit of improved timber treatments, uPVC windows, better roof tiles and exterior render. So there is every reason to suppose they will last even longer than the earlier models.”
Currently, it is estimated that some 200,000 people live in British park homes. With house prices continuing to rise, and the UK supply of housing failing to keep pace in a country where few people want to live in high rise, and have legitimate concerns about their environment, the attraction of park homes is understandable.

You only have to look at today’s park home to see there is little that fits with the old-fashioned concept

Nevertheless, the low-density factor of a residential park, where most park homes are situated, is regarded as incompatible with current government housing policy, which insists that at least 30 homes are built on every hectacre of developed land. Although there are no restrictions on individuals, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents, siting a park home on their own land.
There are 63 residential parks in Kent. The three belonging to the Haulfryn Group are: Beckenham Park, Gillingham, which has 73 properties overlooking Otterham Quay near Upchurch; Greenacres, Deal, where there is an exclusive new development of 34 two-bedroom park homes fronting the Royal Cinque Ports golf course, with the beach only 50 yards away; and at Longbeech Park close to the village of Charing, near Ashford, there are 55 properties situated in an area surrounded by woodland.
“Park home living provides a relaxed and affordable lifestyle”, explains Wally Wells, Haulfryn’s residential homes director. “It is especially attractive to the mature homebuyer, who is probably retired or semi-retired and wants to live in a friendly and established community.
“Many owners of our park homes are those who have sold their own homes, perhaps after their children have gone, or who are on their own after a partner has passed away. With pensions becoming increasingly de-valued, people in these age groups still want to enjoy their lives without having all their capital tied up in conventional bricks and mortar. Especially important, too, is the peace of mind you can derive from knowing your home is safe and secure.”
Homeseeker Homes has been manufacturing high-quality park homes for more than 20 years.

Peace of mind
Based in Northamptonshire the company has its own park home village where its range of homes is on permanent display.
John Flowers is technical and marketing manager, and says: “All our homes are supplied fully furnished, inclusive of carpets and curtains, beds, dining and living room furniture, fitted bedrooms and kitchens. A washing machine, dishwasher and fridge/freezer are standard.
“Our prices range from £30,000 for a single park home, up to £90,000 for the largest (48 feet long by 20 feet wide), which is a two-bedroom home with en-suite facilities. Although I must stress these are manufacturers ‘ex-works’ prices and the ‘turn-key’ cost to the purchaser is likely to be considerably more.”
A substantial part of the total cost of a new park home is that of transporting the home from the factory to the park (some larger homes require an escort while on the road) together with siting costs.
These can vary considerably, in much the same way costs of conventional property reflect the housing values and price of land in the locality. Siting is the work undertaken by the park owner and costs include preparing the base, ie making foundations and groundwork; unloading and joining up the two halves of the home on site; interior finishing to the carpets and walls; connecting up the mains services (water, electricity and gas); building the exterior skirting and steps, landscaping or a garage.
The eminent Victorian, Edward Lear, in one of his famous limericks, wrote: “When they said, ‘Is it small?’ He replied, ‘Not at all!’” could well have been referring to a 21st-century park home.

Words by Roger Paine

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