Wednesday October 7th 2026
Jedwater Caravan Park
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A new home needs to be built on a Scottish Borders family-run caravan park to enable the phased succession of the business from father to son.
Jedwater Caravan Park in Jedburgh is owned by the Gibson Family, having been originally set up by them in the 1950’s.
As a popular destination for holidaymakers, the site currently accommodates 86 static caravans with the ability to take 92: alongside 25 seasonal and overnight touring caravans.
Day-to-day operational running of the caravan park is now undertaken by Michael Gibson.
Michael’s father, Neil, formerly ran the business but is now undertaking a phased retirement.
Neil has lived on-site at Willowford Lodge, adjacent to the caravan park, since the dwellinghouse was built in 1990.
It is from Willowford Lodge that the caravan park was managed until Neil’s retirement.
Management of a caravan park requires 24-hour on-site management and Michael currently lives off site in Jedburgh with his young family.
When issues arise at the caravan park – out with normal working hours – Michael must commute from Jedburgh, before returning on completion of the task or service provision.
This situation is deemed “far from ideal” as a manager cannot manage effectively without an on-site presence.
Likewise, customer service, security and health and safety all diminish when a permanent 24-hour on-site service isn’t provided.
Given there are no alternative dwellinghouses or buildings capable of conversion on-site, it is proposed that a new dwellinghouse is erected adjacent to Willowford Lodge to provide accommodation for the managing partner and his family.
Provision of a dwellinghouse will allow the caravan park to be managed in-situ without the need to commute to site at all hours.
The caravan park is occupied by residents for 10 months of the year.
A report with a planning application to Scottish Borders Council states: “The opportunity to integrate the next generation of family into the business has arisen with the phased retirement of the former managing partner (father), being replaced by the new managing partner (son).
“Without succession the business will lose valuable intellectual property and industry insight, built up over decades.
“It is therefore vital that a phased handover has and is occurring, to enable the business to remain resilient, whilst strengthening its base.
“Having a residence on-site for the new managing partner is seen as the final requirement in the succession process.”
The proposed dwellinghouse site is within a flood plain and a Flood Risk Assessment has been undertaken to provide a more accurate picture of the modelled flooding.
The model shows the proposed site area to be out with the 1 in 200 + climate change flood modelled area, and therefore suitable for residential development.
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