A caravan and motorhome dealer wants to create 40 jobs at a new location on the edge of the Peak District.
Kimberley Caravans, based in Kimberley, just outside Nottingham, has purchased a former engineering building in Chesterfield to be converted into its third location.
Founded in 1981 and with sales of £ 23 million, the company already has a second office in Darlington, County Durham.
In April planning permission was presented to Chesterfield Borough Council to convert the derelict 4 acre Derbyshire site into a trailer and motorhome sales center with offices and service workshops.
If it is successful, Kimberley hopes to have the new branch operational by late summer – and ultimately to be able to exhibit around 150 new and used recreational vehicles there.
The proposals would create up to 35 full-time positions and five part-time positions.
Kimberley Director Chris Lowe said, “We are delighted to have a new location in Chesterfield where we plan to open our third office this summer.
“The company was founded four decades ago on a small property in Nottinghamshire so it is a truly proud moment to see it grow into one of the largest recreational vehicle dealers in the UK.
“The site has been vacant for more than five months, so we are happy to be able to use it productively again and to create employment opportunities on the side.
“We already have many customers in North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, so we can offer them even more convenient service with the Chesterfield office.
“Well located on the edge of the Peak District, the location is only 30 minutes from Sheffield and Chatsworth House in the Derbyshire Dales and 40 minutes from Doncaster – areas where we know there is a lot of interest in caravans and motorhomes.
“It took about 12 months from the initial interest to the completion of the purchase.
“We identified this location because of its size, which enables us to offer a good selection of caravans and motorhomes and to present a large selection of used and new vehicles as well as our exclusive models.
“The site is also home to several large buildings that we will be using to create an extensive service center for the mechanical side of the business and an accessory store that is important in providing a good experience for customers during their visit.”
The purchase is made as caravan and motorhome sales continue to grow as more and more families are choosing to stay due to travel restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2020, a record number of leisure vehicles were sold across Europe – according to the European Caravan Federation, this has increased by 12 percent to around 235,000 units.
In addition to supplying new and used recreational vehicles, Kimberley offers caravans and motorhomes from Compass, Coachman and Swift that are tailored to their own specifications.
Chris said, “In addition to travel restrictions, people were concerned about vacationing abroad and getting on a plane or cruise ship.
“This is why families choose a reliable, safe and enjoyable vacation at home. This has led to an increasing demand for recreational vehicles, with vacationers appreciating the flexibility of motorhomes and caravans.
“As lockdown restrictions are easing, but foreign travel is uncertain, more and more people are looking to the domestic vacation market and recreational vehicles are allowing them to comfortably take a break in the midst of the pandemic.”
Legal advice on the transaction was provided by Browne Jacobson under the direction of Mark Hymers.
The building application was drawn up with the support of DLP Consultants and Matthew Montague Architects.