[darkbrowneggs]

... some friends are getting a smallholding going.  Its in the West Midlands between Worcester and Stourbridge.  They have owned the field for 12 years and it was used for ponies, but they have suddenly got interested in running a smallholding. 


The field nearest the main road was sold a couple of years ago and they run a very small scale operation but are applying for a house soon, and the field just past theirs up the lane was a nursery which got pp for a house then closed the nursery


What are their chances do you think, as if it goes well they will eventually be looking to build a place on their own field (10 acres). 


They are applying for pp for a barn shortly and currently have 10 gilts and four male pigs I would guess around 20-30 weeks old, a Hereford cow and heifer,an in kid goat and about 200 hens.


They are really enthusiastic about it all and working extremely hard, though their jobs are supporting the operation at present as they buy in pig arcs, fence the land, get chicken coops etc etc


I think something like a petting farm with maybe sales of eggs and sausages would be what might suit them...... they haven't had anything killed as yet, though I am encouraging them to send off at least 3 of male pigs which sound large enough and I dont think have been castrated. 


I am invited to see the place next weekend. 


Any input appreciated 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Their best chance would be like the one nearby, establish a viable business that requires on site presence. Otherwise I can't see a green field outside the local villages settlement planning boundaries having much chance.


With the nature and size of what's described I think they might struggle to prove viability over a number of years but would like to be proved wrong.

[Marches Farmer]

Planning permission for such a venture is actually hard to come by.  I know some people not too far away from them who are still hoping for PP but have been unable to make a case for a viable business four years later.

[Daisys Mum]

I know a farmer who bought a farm without the farmhouse and still many years later can't get planning permission for a house so lives about 4 miles away!

[cloddopper]

Their best chance would be like the one nearby, establish a viable business that requires on site presence. Otherwise I can't see a green field outside the local villages settlement planning boundaries having much chance.


With the nature and size of what's described I think they might struggle to prove viability over a number of years but would like to be proved wrong.

 Setting up to produce 300 meat rabbits a week is sometimes used but you do have to have PP for the stock buildings and some gear for it as well as a business plan for it. It does need research and the likely hood of laying out for second hand equipment & complying with current animal welfare requirements and waste disposal .
 I myself got PP for two sheds and OPP for another four , that were set up for meat rabbit breeding on such a scale
 Several people I used to  know managed it and mysteriously went out of business  just after the house was built ..something to do with being wiped out with Myxi and VHD twice within a matter of six months. 

[Marches Farmer]

I think the Councils are now wise to this one.  Ditto selling home-produced pork sausages,, eggs from the farm gate, and so on.  All can produce a small income, if managed correctly and if you're willing to write off the start up costs, but they won't provide enough income to live on (or even pay the Council Tax).  If you want to erect six 45,000-bird broiler unit on the land that might get a more favourable reception!

[cloddopper]

Re the rabbit farm or other small regular maintenance live stock .. it's easier than you think  determine the agricultural wage and add 20 % then work backwards to how bit a concern you need to design .   Use that as your business plan .

 It's also very useful to pay for a half hour or hour with a planning officer as to finding out what currently passes muster ( Mine was free bit I understand that most planning depts. now charge for consultations )  .
 I found my first PO very good when I said I'd like to run a small holding & live there but didn't know which arena to throw my hat into.  Could she advise me what sort of business was currently getting such planning permissions in their area .
 When we wrote the business plan we used her name as the person who advised us ..

[hughesy]

I read somewhere that planners can't use the minimum wage income as a basis for deciding if a business is viable anymore due to the fact that it's accepted that many agricultural businesses don't make enough to pay themself the minimum wage. They have to go on the actual need for a person to be on site 24 hours a day for animal welfare etc.