16 April 2026
Bella Brodie visits a homeowner at Sandy Bay Residential Park to find out more
As I write about most of the different park and leisure home manufacturers regularly, I have a passion for good design and build standards, and I love nothing more than showcasing the potential benefits of the park home lifestyle to those who might have the odd reservation or two. However, what I’ve learned over the years is that good customer service is at least as important as great design, if not more so. After all, the last thing you want is something to go wrong which you would struggle to fix yourself, with no way to do that.
That’s actually one of the reasons Chris Medhurst and his wife Gillian bought an Omar park home, because their reputation for customer service stood out, and they were responsive with communication. Chris lives in an Omar Ikon park home which looks out over a lovely little stream next to a bridge, looking back towards the swimming pool and park hub. He and his wife moved to the park in 2018, when there were far fewer residential homes here. they chose the plot because of that lovely outlook, and the Ikon because of it’s striking external appeal, although the internal layout was also exactly what they were looking for. It still feels almost new today, so it has retained it’s beautiful ‘as new’ condition despite being eight years old now.
A large proportion of the homes on Sandy Bay are built by Omar. Speaking about the relationship between Omar and Sandy Bay, Sales Manager Ash Reeves said; “We have a great working relationship with the Omar Group – they are good people to deal with, and we know that their customer service ethos matches our own, so they will look after our buyers.”
Prior to their move to Sandy Bay, Chris and Gillian lived in Orsett, in a new house they bought off plan and lived in for 25 years, the second time they had been the first owners of a brand-new home. After a challenging spell of ill health and Gillian falling downstairs twice, they decided to look for a bungalow, but most in their price range needed a lot of work. A friend mentioned Sandy Bay just before they had a leaflet through the door, so they were doubly prompted to visit. After looking at the show homes and plots available on the park, they fell in love with the design of the Omar Ikon, and returned on the Sunday of the same week to order one for the plot they liked most. It then had to be built, making it the third time they had bought ‘off spec’. The park gave the going rate for their home via part exchange, and a couple of months later their new home was ready for them to move into, it was all very quick.
The home came with lovely outside decking and steps from UK Sundecks, also part of the Omar Group, so they were both able to enjoy the resort feel of the park and sit outside a lot, and their cat Poppy also loves their home. Chris said; “They are so easy to upkeep, everything is included and that made it all really easy for us. We haven’t really had a problem with it, although when we moved in there were a couple of settlement issues with the decking alignment, but they sorted it out really quickly.” He continued “I love sitting outside in the evening, it’s really restful. The original park owner wanted to put brick built houses here but couldn’t get planning permission for them, so it’s great that it ended up residential. Family who have come to see it are all impressed, they didn’t realise the homes were so big and luxurious inside.”
That raises a great point, as this is a perfect example of one of the key benefits of park home living over bricks and mortar – you would simply not be able to own a bricks and mortar home on some of the most beautiful parks in Britain because planning permission wouldn’t be given, but buying a residential park home opens up some really beautiful spots, such as Sandy Bay, for prospective buyers to live in.
Going back to their story, Chris said; “The part exchange element helped us to get on with our move quickly and it was a good thing we did. My wife had retired early because of her health, and I was still working as an HGV driver a few days a week. After four years I was going to retire early but my wife had a stroke. She did enjoy her time here immensely, but not long after that stroke three years ago she died.” Chris did then briefly think about moving, but realised he wouldn’t find anything he liked more, and decided to stay in the home that they had shared at Sandy Bay.
A REFURBISHED EN-SUITE
Chris has recently had work carried out on the en-suite shower room as he explained; “I spotted the floor wasn’t right in the shower room a while ago, pulled the lino up and realised that there was a slow leak somewhere. I didn’t use it for a bit, but recently decided it was beyond my skill to sort it out and decided to call Omar, because they built it, and I trusted them. Dave at Omar Refurbishments came straight out and quoted me and I was happy with that. They scheduled the work quickly, and did a very thorough job at a reasonable price to replace the floor and wall, fit a brand new shower tray and door in, even a new WC, it had a pretty comprehensive refit. I was really pleased with it and it totally exceeded my expectations as it was left looking better than the original en-suite had! It took a week but the two workers sent, Gareth and Damon, were so neat, you wouldn’t know they had been here. Every day they left it clean and tidy, and were polite and helpful. I was really impressed with them.” Looking at the work, we can see why Chris describes it as better than the original, because they used updated single sheet panelling in the shower rather than tiling, and even matched a small strip of wall with the original wallpaper, which was a particular upgrade in this specific Ikon special model, and not used on their current range. It looks really up to date, yet seamlessly blending into the original design. You would never know there had been a problem and it was completed to a very high standard. Chris concluded; “I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them, they may not be the cheapest but in my opinion you couldn’t get anyone better.”
Dave Clarke, Refurbishment Manager for Omar said; “If you need work carried out on a park home or lodge it’s really important to use someone familiar with park home construction. It was a real pleasure to transform this en-suite for Chris, and we’re thrilled he’s so pleased with the work. On this occasion we were also able to add value by giving it a bit of a visual uplift in some areas, making it feel really fresh and up-to-date, so we’re glad he’s enjoying using it again.”
ABOUT SANDY BAY
Sandy Bay Residential Resort is an over‑50s gated community nestled directly on the shoreline in Canvey Island, Essex, in the Thames Estuary. This was actually the first time I’d been to Canvey Island, and before buying here the Medhursts weren’t familiar with it either, but it exceeded my expectations completely, as it did theirs. Chris said “Canvey Island is a really nice place, we were really surprised when we came here – I can easily walk to the shops or go for a nice walk on the coastal path, and everything I need is within walking distance, shops, doctors, dentist, vets; it’s all on our doorstep at this park. In the summer it’s even more beautiful to be next to a beach, with all of the coastal atmosphere that goes with that. People are so friendly here too.”
On the way in you drive through a beautiful expanse of marshland, Canvey Wick Nature Reserve, which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest often called ‘England’s Rainforest’, offering a sanctuary for wildlife, and a natural magnet for ornithologists. Then you’re into the main town which has plentiful facilities, all within walking distance of the park. Once on the park, you enter a secure, gated community resort, where the gardens are immaculate, the atmosphere friendly and unhurried, and Thorney Bay beach itself is only a short stroll away – perfect for those who want year‑round living with a genuine holiday‑at‑home feel. The homes are set in neat rows here but it still has plenty of character and that planning approach means that plenty of space has been allocated for open green areas and landscaped features.
For those familiar with the area, this park used to be Thorney Bay Holiday Park, then part of it became residential as Sandy Bay, and it’s now completely residential as part of Sandy Bay, with plenty of plots available to tempt buyers well into the future. So, it may have changed somewhat, and the area has clearly undergone quite a bit of recent regeneration. There’s a lovely walk from the park along to the beach, with a striking coffee shop and play area on the way – the perfect short walk for residents to enjoy with visiting family!
On‑park amenities make this residential park more tempting than most as it really does have a resort feel, with a heated outdoor swimming pool, bar, restaurant/entertainment area, and a handy convenience store all on site. Thanks to these amenities there’s a real sense of community here, and the park offers an active events calendar with activities such as live music three times a week, water aerobics, bingo, quiz nights and Zumba. Homes are available in a range of styles and budgets, and the park’s generous part‑exchange scheme – offering up to 100% market value for your existing home – makes moving simpler and more accessible. It’s a compelling combination: coastal living, resort comforts, and a like‑minded community, all wrapped into one inviting Essex location. It’s no wonder then that homes here are selling so well – with over 100 new homes sold in the past year alone. That’s a real testament to how lovely this park is, and definitely worth being on your shortlist to visit if you’re looking for a residential park in Essex!
ABOUT THE OMAR GROUP SERVICES USED
Omar Group brings together park‑home manufacturing, professional refurbishment, and specialist decking to give homebuyers a genuinely seamless experience. Together, these services create a rounded, end‑to‑end solution that helps buyers not only choose their ideal home but also personalise, maintain, and elevate it with confidence, knowing that neither the build or visual integrity of their home has been compromised in the process. It’s this seamless integration which appealed to Chris Medhurst when he re-approached Omar for his refurbishment project. “I wanted a firm I could trust, and I knew they’d do a good job of it”, he said. “I was right.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
About Sandy Bay Luxury Residential Resort: www.sandybay.co.uk
