Richardson’s Group, the family-run business whose portfolio includes Hemsby Beach Holiday Park, Seacroft Holiday Village and the largest fleet of cruisers on the Norfolk Broads, has further boosted local tourism with plans for a 260 room hotel on the current Seacroft site and the replacement of existing chalets at Hemsby Beach Holiday Park with 252 new static caravans and 15 lodges.
After taking a strategic view of the business a planning application has been made to Great Yarmouth Borough Council for what is envisaged to be a 10 year redevelopment plan. The hotel has been designed to be able to be built in phases with the scheme starting in winter 2013 subject to winning planning permission. It is envisaged that when the scheme is 50% complete the business will be able to operate over 52 weeks giving 50 seasonal team members full-time positions. Richardson’s has been working with its architects Paul Robinson Partnership since 2008 and has already spent over £100K on plans and planning fees. The hotel rooms are being designed to Premier Inn standards and once the whole scheme is complete there will be an additional 54 units and Hemsby Beach Holiday Park and 118 at Seacroft. Accommodation will comprise 200 standard 2 person rooms, 44 family rooms and 16 disabled rooms.
Richardson’s is probably most famous for its 60 years in Norfolk Broads boating. In October 2009 Richardson’s started the production of an all-new design of broads cruiser which truly breaks the mould. ‘Broadsman’ was launched for the first time on 10th June 2011. All key development work has been carried out in-house by the full time team.
In total six new boats have been built. Richardson’s has planned to build eight new boats next year with development of one new class and has committed to circa of £1m for the development and production of new cruisers per annum.
Greg Munford, Group CEO comments: “We already have successful businesses in Hemsby but we are excited about securing the future of the business. We will be bringing the standard of accommodation in line with the first class customer service we already offer, something which guests frequently comment upon being second to none. Along with this scheme and the investment we have already made and continue to make to the boating side of the business, we are honored to be able to secure and boost the tourism business in Norfolk.”
