A POPULAR New Forest holiday park has invested £1million in creating 20 new holiday homes.

Sandy Balls Holiday Village near Fordingbridge will unveil the new homes, known as ‘the Zen’, on March 30.

The luxury lodges, which can sleep up to seven people, are designed to help guests escape the "stresses of the 21st century when they are on holiday".

Each ‘Zen’ comes equipped with DVDs and meditation guides along with a number of Zen-inspired movies to enjoy.

They also have their own dedicated parking area and secluded hot tub.

Carl Castledine, Away Resorts chief executive, said: "We've done our own research, polling 2,000 of our guests. We found that the primary factor for them when selecting their main holiday was their accommodation. We also found that 65% of UK holidaymakers like to relax in their holiday homes in the evening, as opposed to going out.

"We understand that different people have different drivers when it comes to holiday accommodation. To cater to these different tastes, we have already introduced the family-friendly New York loft-themed TriBeCa and the Brit-cool Rockstar holiday homes over the past 12 months."

"The Zen is our option for those who want to get back to nature; to switch off from the city's hustle and bustle; to relax and re-energise; to use their holiday to improve their wellness. It has been shown that wellbeing improves immeasurably as a result of immersing oneself in nature. The more research that's done on the benefits of the outdoors, the more it becomes obvious that spending time in the wild is one of the best boosters of health and wellness - both physical and mental."

Alongside the new homes, operator Away Resorts has spent £400,000 on transforming Aubrey’s restaurant.

The on-site family restaurant has been rebranded as Aubrey's Forest Kitchen and given a new look inspired by its forest sitting with restyled seating, a new bar area and a new outdoor dining area.

It will also offer a delivery service to all guests staying at Sandy Balls.

The existing holiday village accommodation has also been given a £300,000 revamp, while £100,000 has been spent on improving the indoor pool.

A further £240,000 has been invested on landscaping the village square and £10,000 has been spent on creating a Woodland Theatre for outdoor performances.

Mr Castledine added: "We pride ourselves on our portfolio of high-quality accommodation across all of our parks, and this investment at Sandy Balls represents our commitment to ensuring that the holiday village continues to deliver the standard of luxury that our guests have come to expect.

"The landscaping of the Village Square will make it a more accessible area to enjoy all year round and the new Woodland Theatre gives the park's entertainment team the opportunity to take their guests outside and enjoy shows in the great outdoors.”