Haven plans to open Primrose Valley from 1 February: what it could mean for owners

Haven has applied to North Yorkshire Council for permission to open Primrose Valley Holiday Park, near Filey, from 1 February each year instead of 1 March. If approved, the change would add 29 extra operating days a year and allow families to stay during the February half-term break.

The plans were reported by Anttoni James Numminen of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, in articles published by The Scarborough News, This is the Coast and York Press. North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the plans, which are open to representations from members of the public.

What Haven has applied for

According to the reports, the park currently opens on 1 March and closes in early January for owners of static caravans. Under the proposal, guests would be able to arrive from 1 February. The reports also say:

• No new buildings. The application states that no new buildings are required.
• No extra caravans. There would be no increase in the number of caravans on the site.
• No infrastructure changes. No changes are proposed to parking, drainage or the road network.
• Existing jobs. Haven says the plans would help support existing jobs rather than create new positions.

The reports do not give an exact closing date beyond “early January”, and they do not quote a planning application reference. If you would like to read the documents or comment, North Yorkshire Council’s online planning register is the place to search for Primrose Valley.

Why Haven says it wants the change

Plans submitted to the council describe Primrose Valley as an important part of the local visitor economy and argue that extending the season would support efforts to create a more year-round tourism industry. The company says the move would help boost tourism, support local jobs and bring more visitors to the Scarborough area during what is traditionally one of the quietest times of the year.

As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Haven said approval would “help ensure that Haven continues to contribute to this growing domestic market, diversifies its operations sufficiently to capture changing tourism demands, and reinforces Haven’s role within Scarborough and to its local economy.”

Planning consultants acting on behalf of Haven described the additional opening period as a “modest increase” to a site that already operates successfully for much of the year. The application also argues that a longer season would help tackle the seasonal nature of tourism employment on the coast, an issue identified in planning policies covering the Scarborough area.

What it could mean for owners at Primrose Valley

Nothing changes unless the council approves the application. The reports also do not say how Haven would apply an earlier opening date to owners, as opposed to holidaymakers staying in Haven’s own accommodation. With that in mind, here are a few points owners may want to consider.

Your holiday-use season

If the plans are approved, the park could open from 1 February rather than 1 March. Whether owners could use their own caravans from that date would depend on how Haven puts any approval into practice and on the terms of each owner’s agreement. The park team is the best place to ask.

Your licence agreement

Your licence agreement sets out the terms on which you keep your holiday home on the park, which may include when you can use it. Owners may want to check what theirs says about season dates and how changes are handled. Our guide to selling a static caravan with a pitch licence explains why these terms matter, and our article on licence clauses that can affect a private sale covers points worth reading closely.

Pitch fees

The reports say nothing about pitch fees, and we are not suggesting that fees would change. If you have questions about how your fees are set or what they cover, your licence agreement and the park are the places to check. Our article on how site fees affect whether you should sell may also help if you are reviewing your costs.

If you are thinking of selling

If you are planning to sell, it can help to know the current season dates and whether any change has been approved, as a buyer may ask. Until the council makes a decision, the current opening date of 1 March is the one to quote.

More from Primrose Valley

Earlier this month we covered a different story from the same park, when Primrose Valley and Blue Dolphin joined The Rainbow Centre’s Rainbow 100 Club in Scarborough. You can read the full details in that post.

Weighing up your options?

If you own a static caravan at a Haven park and are deciding whether to keep it, our guide to selling a static caravan at Haven explains what you need to know. You can also find out more on our Haven holiday parks page and our Filey page.

Static Caravan Buyer charges no commission when we buy your caravan. We cannot promise to buy every caravan, but we aim to contact you within 24 hours of your enquiry and to make an offer within 48 hours after that contact. Payment is made on collection day before the caravan is loaded.

Call us free on 0800 644 5000 or visit www.staticcaravanbuyer.com. Please note we buy holiday static caravans and lodges, not residential park homes.

Sources: The Scarborough News, This is the Coast and York Press (Local Democracy Reporting Service, October 2026). The featured image is illustrative and does not show Primrose Valley.