Static Caravan vs Modular Holiday Home
A static caravan is a manufactured unit built on a single transportable chassis to a model range, while a modular holiday home is assembled from building modules and configured to your layout. The practical differences show up in layout flexibility, whether the building can be extended later, insulation and appearance — and in the fact that caravan legal status is designed in on one and has to be established project-by-project on the other. An Adacon module is 12.18 m² internally at £10,750 + VAT, with transport quoted separately.
Adacon Technical Team · Published
Price
A new static caravan is bought as a finished model at a list price that varies by manufacturer, size and specification, so we will not quote figures for other people's products. On our side the maths is simple: £10,750 + VAT per module (£12,900 inc. VAT), with sanitary fit-out, kitchen, terraces and roof options priced on top. Groundworks, drainage, final electrical connection and transport are quoted separately, exactly as pitch preparation would be for a caravan.
Size and layout
Static caravans are sold in set lengths and widths with a floor plan fixed by the model. Modular units are sized in 12.18 m² increments — approximately 24.36 m² for a two-module lodge and 48.72 m² for a four-module family unit — and the internal walls, door and window positions are set by you at design stage.
Transport and site access
A static caravan arrives as one long load, which is usually the constraint on tight or rural pitches. Modules arrive individually and are craned or placed into position, which can suit awkward access but does need space for the lift. Either way, access has to be assessed before delivery is quoted.
Site requirements
Both need a level, prepared base and connections for water, drainage and power. Neither price includes them. The base specification for a modular building is confirmed at quotation stage based on the module count and ground conditions.
Insulation and season length
Insulated walls, floor and roof plus double-glazed uPVC windows and doors are standard on every Adacon module, which is what makes shoulder-season and winter letting practical with modest heating. Caravan insulation varies considerably between models and model years, so compare the actual specification rather than the category.
Future expansion
This is the clearest difference. Enlarging a static caravan generally means replacing it. With modules, adding further modules later is potentially possible, subject to site space, the original design and any consents.
Planning and site licence
Holiday accommodation almost always needs planning permission, and parks operate under a site licence that governs what can be sited and where. Whether a particular unit falls within the caravan or mobile-home definition affects both. This is project-specific for a modular building and must be confirmed with the local planning authority and licensing team.
Holiday versus residential use
Permitted use is set by the planning consent for the site, not by the product. Neither a static caravan nor a modular unit converts holiday-use land into residential land. Treat any claim that a unit is automatically suitable for permanent residence with caution.
Maintenance and appearance
Modular units use conventional external cladding, chosen wall by wall, with plastered and painted interiors and laminate flooring, so maintenance is closer to that of a small building than a caravan. Appearance is the reason many buyers move across: flat, mono-pitch or dual-pitch roofs, full-height glazing and built-in terraces read as contemporary accommodation.
Life expectancy and resale
We do not publish a life-expectancy figure or a resale value for either product, because neither can be defended with data we hold. What is worth knowing is that many parks apply an age limit to caravans on pitch, so ask the operator what their policy is before assuming a unit can stay indefinitely.
Worth knowing: Caravan and mobile-home status, planning permission, site licensing and permitted use depend on the unit, the installation and the site. Nothing here confirms that a modular building qualifies as a caravan or as a permanent dwelling — that must be established for your specific project.