A �3m-plus project on the edge of a Norfolk town will see a holiday park transformed from an out of date 1960s chalet park into a 21st century tourist attraction.

A �3m-plus project on the edge of a Norfolk town will see a holiday park transformed from an out of date 1960s chalet park into a 21st century tourist attraction.

At a time when sizable business investment is a relative rarity, the owners of Norfolk Park Homes, formerly the North Walsham Caravan and Chalet Park, have been ploughing huge amounts of cash and effort into the redesign of the 28-acre woodland site.

The brown coloured 'Hi de Hi' chalets which have been associated with the park for so long have been all but flattened, said sales manager Jim Henry, and work was progressing well, with the approaching Easter potentially a key date.

Most of the project to alter the 120 old static caravans to 240 contemporary park homes, dig a lake, build a bar, bistro, restaurant and swimming pool, plus a fitness centre and local farm shop, has planning permission. Permission has not yet been granted for the fitness centre and 40 of the homes.

'We are completely changing the demographic and the look of the homes, moving from 1950s or 1960s facilities to modern up to date park homes,' said Mr Henry.

'There will also be a lot of work done underground, with a complete overhaul of the sewage and drainage systems.

'What we are trying to create is Norfolk's premier park homes site.'

While about 10 people are currently employed at the site, when fully up and running it is hoped the park will employ up to 50.

Aimed at the retired and semi-retired market, sales in January had been 'fabulous', said Mr Henry, and it was hoped that by the Easter weekend most of the facilities such as the pool and bar would be open.

'It's a good news story for us at the moment, there is an awful lot of development going on and a lot of money being spent,' added Mr Henry.

'We are not cutting back, we are employing more people, so local people will benefit.

'There is a lot of depressing news about the credit crunch and everyone being hard up, but our client group is more recession-proof than the younger elements.'

www.norfolkparkhomes.com