Latest News from Charles F Jones and Son LLP http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/ Charles F Jones and Son LLP would like to announce the sale of a sizeable group of Park Home Estates located in Cheshire, Flintshire and Conwy. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/67/A-Significant-group-of-parks-has-been-sold-in-North-West-England-and-North-Wales http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/67/A-Significant-group-of-parks-has-been-sold-in-North-West-England-and-North-Wales Under an initiative called Tourism Investment Support Scheme (TISS), the Welsh Government are seeking to offer financial assistance for both existing and new tourism businesses in Wales to “upgrade the quality of facilities and increasing capacity where there is a gap in the market”. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/66/Could-Your-Park-Qualify-for-a-Government-Grant? http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/66/Could-Your-Park-Qualify-for-a-Government-Grant? It is that time of year when we would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. It is also a time when we can look back over the past 12 months and reflect on how caravan parks have fared during what can best be described as ”interesting times” with the state of the economy in Europe and the Euro. It is quite evident from our records that the holiday caravan park is proving to be fairly resilient to the recession with occupancy levels holding their own and caravan sales being on par with 2009. Demand for used static caravans has out-performed new caravans reflecting a down-turn in demand for higher end units. Occupancy levels on touring caravan parks have, in the main been good with some parks reporting higher levels of income and profit. There has been some concern particularly with the banks that values have fallen. In our experience this is not strictly true. It is fair to say that we are not seeing “premiums” that were being achieved up until mid 2008 but in most cases the core values are being maintained and where profit levels are up so are the values. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Park Home Estates which have been directly challenged by the down-turn in the residential market and this has impacted on the values and current demand in this sector. One thing that does stand out is that when we compare this year to the previous two years, there are no clear trends emerging. There has been a steady demand for touring parks and static holiday parks and park home estates although less so with the latter. The key throughout has been price and where a business has been correctly valued we have seen deals happen albeit that we have witnessed far longer delays in transactions completing and this is mainly down to raising finance and the far greater levels of due diligence that is being carried out not only by the banks but also by the legal profession. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/65/Looking-Back-at-2011 http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/65/Looking-Back-at-2011 Located in Chester City centre Charles F Jones and Son is one of the country’s leading specialist firms of Chartered Surveyors. The Firm offers a broad spectrum of professional services to their clients including a successful Rating department which acts for the majority of Holiday Parks and Holiday Centres in England and Wales, a Valuation Department specialising in valuation for all eventualities including acquisitions, audited accounts, bank funding, capital gains and compensation claims including divorce, the most experienced specialist Holiday and Home Park Planning Department in the UK and a specialist Leisure Agency Division dealing with the sale and acquisition of holiday parks, park home estates, holiday centres together with marinas and golf courses. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/64/Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-Celebrate-140years http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/64/Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-Celebrate-140years There are currently between 2,000 to 3,000 clients and applicants actively looking for caravan parks on the Charles f Jones' database. This database is updated daily and below is a list of a number of our applicants urgent requirements. If you own a park and are thinking of selling please do not hesitate to contact our office as we may have an applicant that is the perfect match for your park. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/63/Buyers-Want-Parks http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/63/Buyers-Want-Parks This 'Park of the Month' has been chosen for its picturesque location and solid trading performance. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/62/Park-of-the-Month---Pembrokeshire http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/62/Park-of-the-Month---Pembrokeshire Introducing our new feature 'Park of the month', this is awarded, not only, to the park which has generated the most enquiries but also has the thumbs up from our Sales department. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/61/Park-of-The-Month http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/61/Park-of-The-Month Are you operating a caravan park which is restricted by a stay limitation condition? These types of conditions have been imposed by Local Authorities in an attempt to restrict the occupation of touring caravan pitches and static holiday caravans. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/60/Remove-your-Stay-Limitation-Condition http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/60/Remove-your-Stay-Limitation-Condition As you will be aware, the new Rating List came into force on 1st April 2010 when your Rateable Value is likely to have gone up. Some Rateable Values have gone up because they were too low in the previous Rating List and there are others that are plainly excessive!! http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/59/BUSINESS-RATES-–-HAVE-YOU-APPEALED?-------ACT-NOW http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/59/BUSINESS-RATES-–-HAVE-YOU-APPEALED?-------ACT-NOW Following the recent Budget there are some issues which will be of interest to the industry and we outline some of the more important ones:- http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/58/BUDGET-NEWS http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/58/BUDGET-NEWS There is an on-going desire from holiday park operators to extend the boundaries of their park to accommodate additional static/touring caravan pitches (to meet demand) or to recoup “lost” caravan pitches that have occurred over the years through the provision of larger holiday caravans and lower density layouts. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/57/SUCCESSFUL-PLANNING-WITH-ENVIRONMENTAL-BENEFITS! http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/57/SUCCESSFUL-PLANNING-WITH-ENVIRONMENTAL-BENEFITS! In theory, the advice given to a seller regarding Market Value should be within 10% of the valuation that a valuer would report within a formal valuation for secured lending purposes. However, in many cases there is a wide discrepancy between the two and this can be due to one of a couple of reasons. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/56/CHARLES-F-JONES-and-SON-LLP---A-VALUATION-UPDATE http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/56/CHARLES-F-JONES-and-SON-LLP---A-VALUATION-UPDATE All Planning Applications have to be determined having regard to a Council’s Development Plan. If your proposal is not in accord with its Policies then there is every likelihood it will be refused. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/55/HAVE-YOU-MADE-YOUR-VIEWS-KNOWN? http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/55/HAVE-YOU-MADE-YOUR-VIEWS-KNOWN? Following the Government’s position on the need to extend the holiday season in the UK in order to derive the maximum amount of benefits to the economy Charles F Jones and Son LLP have been in inundated with instructions from Park operators all over the UK to extend their operating season to 12 months. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/54/*STOP-PRESS*-ADVANCE-NOTICE http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/54/*STOP-PRESS*-ADVANCE-NOTICE Did you know that only 30% of all our properties make it to the website! http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/53/Caravan-Parks-For-Sale http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/53/Caravan-Parks-For-Sale Each year at this time the NCC Members Forum comes around and as always Charles F Jones will be attending in force. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/52/Week-of-the-NCC-Forum http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/52/Week-of-the-NCC-Forum As part of an on-going feature on the morning programme Rossie and Co. Charles F Jones and Son became the company of the week with a different member of staff interviewed each day. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/51/Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-LLP-on-Radio-City-FM http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/51/Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-LLP-on-Radio-City-FM As 2011 gets underway Charles F Jones and Son LLP gets ready for a busy year. Our Calendar is filling up with various events and as it is our 140th year we will be attending industry functions in force. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/50/Happy-New-Year-From-Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-LLP http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/50/Happy-New-Year-From-Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-LLP As 2011 gets underway Charles F Jones and Son LLP gets ready for a busy year. Our Calendar is filling up with various events and as it is our 140th year we will be attending industry functions in force. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/49/Happy-New-Year-From-Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-LLP http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/49/Happy-New-Year-From-Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-LLP Richard Joined the Firm as marketing manager in 2004 and has worked in the Commercial Department assisting Robert Gale-Hasleham (Senior Partner) with valuation, sale and the acquisition of caravan parks as well as promoting the Firm in general. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/48/Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-has-promoted-Richard-Prestwich-to-the-position-of-Partner. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/48/Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-has-promoted-Richard-Prestwich-to-the-position-of-Partner. Charles F Jones and Son LLP have been selling caravan parks longer than any other specialist agent in the UK. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/47/Caravan-Parks-For-Sale-in-the-UK-and-Europe http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/47/Caravan-Parks-For-Sale-in-the-UK-and-Europe Despite an uncertainty in the market place Charles F Jones and Son LLP have witnessed a sharp rise in the amount of parks sold in the UK since Easter 2010. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/46/Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-LLP-Sells-One-of-North-Wales-Largest-Parks http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/46/Charles-F-Jones-and-Son-LLP-Sells-One-of-North-Wales-Largest-Parks Charles F Jones and Son LLP have been out and about again and have enjoyed meeting with park owners and other industry professionals. Our most recent outings include the BHandHPA Clwyd branch meeting and the North West branch meeting incorporating a seminar where our David Gale-Hasleham gave a very thought provoking talk. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/45/CFJ---Out-and-About http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/45/CFJ---Out-and-About Charles F Jones and Son LLP and a host of other professional companies specialising in the caravan industry are holding a seminar at the Lancaster House Hotel in Lancaster on Wednesday 9th June 2010. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/44/North-West-Seminar-for-Park-Owners---Wednesday-9th-June-2010 http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/44/North-West-Seminar-for-Park-Owners---Wednesday-9th-June-2010 For a caravan park owner one of the most difficult things to come to terms with is the prospect of selling their business. Most operators have built their business up over many years and the idea of selling it can be a traumatic experience, especially if the business has been handed down through the generations. There are many moral and financial decisions to make prior to going to the market as well as the process of disposing of the company and/or asset which in the majority of cases would be handled by a reputable specialist agent. One of key decisions prior to marketing the park is the timing of when the property should go to the market. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/42/The-Right-Time-to-Sell http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/42/The-Right-Time-to-Sell Richard Prestwich of Chartered Surveyors Charles F Jones LLP looks at the art of valuing a park http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/41/What’s-it-worth?--The-truth-about-park-valuations http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/41/What’s-it-worth?--The-truth-about-park-valuations CHECK YOUR RATEABLE VALUE NOW! http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/40/STOP-PRESS-BUSINESS-RATES http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/40/STOP-PRESS-BUSINESS-RATES SUCCESSFUL APPEAL TAKEN BY CHARLES F JONES and SON LLP TOGETHER WITH FULL AWARD OF COSTS AGAINST COUNCIL http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/39/CFJ-WIN-ANOTHER-IMPORTANT-APPEAL---------------------------------------------------- http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/39/CFJ-WIN-ANOTHER-IMPORTANT-APPEAL---------------------------------------------------- Charles F Jones and Son LLP have witnessed an increase in holiday caravan parks coming to the market place with the number of serious purchasers also slowly rising. The main areas of interest for serious applicants are touring/camping parks and holiday static parks, which by coincidence are also proving to be the most reselient to the effects of the economic downturn. In many cases these type of parks have become more successful in terms of profits received over the 2009 holiday season. This is a trend that looks set to continue as holiday makers are choosing domestic destinations over other European alternatives. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/38/Market-Update-November-2009 http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/38/Market-Update-November-2009 It is quite a rare occurence when 8 of the previous Chairmen of the National Caravan Council can be pictured in the same room. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/37/The-NCC-past-Chairmen http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/37/The-NCC-past-Chairmen The North West branch of the BHandHPA are holding there annual AGM on Thursday 19th November 2009 at Ashton Hall in Lancashire. David Gale-Hasleham of Charles F Jones and Son LLP shall be giving a most informative talk on 2010 Rating Revaluation, a topic that will effect every holiday caravan park within England and Wales. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/36/2010-Rating-Revaluation-Talk-at-the-BHandHPA-North-West-Branch-Annual-Dinner http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/36/2010-Rating-Revaluation-Talk-at-the-BHandHPA-North-West-Branch-Annual-Dinner Charles F Jones and Son LLP has joined an elite group by becoming one of the first practitioners in the UK to achieve the profession’s top vocational qualification. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/33/STUDIES-PAY-OFF-FOR-CHESTER-PROPERTY-AGENT http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/33/STUDIES-PAY-OFF-FOR-CHESTER-PROPERTY-AGENT At Charles F Jones and Son LLP, we receive many enquiries from park owners and operators to appraise their planning and Site Licensing history. It is extremely important to know exactly what you have planning permission for when considering development. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/32/Understanding-your-Planning-Permissions-and-Site-Licence http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/32/Understanding-your-Planning-Permissions-and-Site-Licence We have recently achieved another successful planning permission to allow for the relocation of touring pitches onto adjoining land together with the provision for children’s play area and equipment, open recreation space and additional screen planting. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/29/ANOTHER-APPROVAL-TO-UPGRADE-A-TOURING-CARAVAN-PARK http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/29/ANOTHER-APPROVAL-TO-UPGRADE-A-TOURING-CARAVAN-PARK Teesdale District Council enforce a Policy that states that a caravan can only be occupied by one person or groups of persons for no more that 6 weeks in any one calendar year. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/28/CHARLES-F-JONES-and-SON-WIN-APPEAL-CONTRARY-TO-LOCAL-PLAN-POLICY http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/28/CHARLES-F-JONES-and-SON-WIN-APPEAL-CONTRARY-TO-LOCAL-PLAN-POLICY Charles F Jones and Son LLP have had recent success in extending holiday seasons within the North York Moors National Park Authority on both static caravan and touring caravan parks to 1st March in any one year to the 14th January the following year. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/27/SUCCESS-IN-EXTENDING-HOLIDAY-SEASONS-WITHIN-NORTH-YORK-MOORS-NATIONAL-PARK http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/27/SUCCESS-IN-EXTENDING-HOLIDAY-SEASONS-WITHIN-NORTH-YORK-MOORS-NATIONAL-PARK The Valuation Office Agency have now published the new 'Request For Information' Forms for the 2010 Rating Revaluation for all holiday parks across the country and will be issuing them to all parks between the 1st March and the 30th April. http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/2/Valuation-Office-Agency-Publish-2010- http://www.cfj.co.uk/news/2/Valuation-Office-Agency-Publish-2010-