Holiday Parks in Selsey
Caravans, chalets and seasonal tourism
The holiday parks on the western side of Selsey are a major part of the town's economy and identity. Bunn Leisure is the dominant operator, running several large parks including West Sands, Green Lawns and White Horse, which together provide thousands of holiday accommodation units in the form of static caravans, holiday chalets and touring pitches.
The parks offer a self-contained holiday experience, with swimming pools, entertainment venues, bars, restaurants, amusement arcades, sports facilities and children's play areas within the park boundaries. Evening entertainment includes live music, comedy shows, bingo and themed events. The target market is families and couples seeking an affordable seaside holiday, and the parks are particularly popular during the school holidays and bank holiday weekends.
Bunn Leisure is one of the largest employers in the Selsey area, providing jobs in hospitality, entertainment, maintenance, retail and administration. The seasonal nature of the employment means that many positions are temporary, running from Easter to October, though a core of permanent staff maintain the parks year-round.
The holiday parks bring significant economic benefits to Selsey. Visitors spend money in the town's shops, pubs and restaurants, supporting businesses that might struggle on the year-round population alone. The seasonal influx keeps the High Street alive during the summer and provides a customer base for the cafes, takeaways and convenience stores.
The impact on the town is not uniformly positive, however. The summer population surge brings congestion on the B2145, pressure on parking, increased footfall on the beaches and a change in the character of the town that some residents find unwelcome. The contrast between the busy summer and the quiet winter is stark, and some businesses find it difficult to sustain themselves during the off-season when the holiday parks are largely closed.
Static caravans and holiday chalets within the parks can be purchased as holiday homes, providing an affordable route to property ownership in the Selsey area. The parks charge annual site fees and maintenance charges, and the caravans have a finite life, but for those seeking a coastal retreat at a price below conventional property, the parks offer an accessible option.
The holiday parks have been part of Selsey's landscape since the post-war decades, and they have transformed the western side of the town from farmland into a leisure zone. The relationship between the parks and the permanent community is generally harmonious, with both sides recognising the mutual dependence that sustains the local economy.