Stockton’s The Hambleton Group triples capacity

Nov 7 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

THE rise of the ‘staycation’ has helped a caravan storage firm triple its capacity by finally acquiring the land it has been chasing for six years.

Stockton’s The Hambleton Group, which offers storage plots for caravan owners with limited space, has been operating at full capacity during the economic downturn as cash-strapped holiday-makers opt to stay at home, rather than travel overseas.

The phenomenon, known as the ‘staycation’, has helped keep the company’s Teesside Warehousing subsidiary operating at full capacity of 300 caravans, with a waiting list of around 200 additional customers.

However, after a six-year battle to buy the land it needs to expand, it has finally bought a seven-acre site adjacent to its headquarters, meaning it can now handle 1,000 caravans.

The move, which was delayed due to a lengthy planning dispute, is expected to see the storage arm of the business increase its current annual turnover of £1.18m by 40% over the next two years.

The deal for the land on Teesside Industrial Estate was finally sealed after negotiations ensured there would be no disruption to the current site or its owners, while having a positive effect on the rest of the estate.

The £30m-a-year Hambleton Group also operates a number of additional subsidiaries from the site, including a collectable toy auctioneers and a contract packing firm.

The company also offers storage facilities for files and documents – a service which will be expanded to store digital data by next year.

The new caravan storage plots open next year to correspond with plans to link Teesside Industrial Estate to the A174, just off the A19 junction.

Teesside Warehousing’s general manager Lisa Pluves said: “There is increasing demand for caravan and motor home storage – in 2008 caravan usage rose by almost 40%.

“Families are looking to holiday at home without having the inconvenience of vans standing on their drives or the worry of onlookers knowing when the caravan is missing and therefore the home may be a target for criminals.”

Hambleton Group’s existing 14-acre headquarters is also home to Vectis, which runs 55 auctions for collectable toys every year and generates around £7m annually.

The multi-faceted family empire was launched in 1976 by husband and wife team Bryan and Jeannie Goodall, and today employs 100 people.

Families are looking to holiday at home without having the inconvenience of vans standing on their drives