NEW BUSINESS UNITS IN WEST CORNWALL

Objective One funding is to help create business/workspace in an attractive rural location on the outskirts of Helston in west Cornwall. The project is to receive £60,000 from the Rural Diversification Capital Grant Initiative administered by Business Link. 50% of the funding will come from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund with a similar sum being provided by DEFRA.

In total approximately 1087 sqm of workshop units will be created at Tresprison Farm, partly by converting existing redundant farm buildings and partly by developing new units. There will be a mix of units ranging in size from 30 sqm to 450 sqm which will appeal to different sectors of the local business market.

The project will assist in diversifying the existing farm business and in so doing help to sustain agricultural activity at the farm for the foreseeable future. Preliminary research has indicated a strong demand for well located business premises, particularly for expanding small businesses looking to move up from home based premises. Gareth Rowe of Stags Truro Office, who specialises in advising on farm diversification and rural development projects, has been closely involved in preparing the bid for European funding. Mr Rowe reports: "This is an excellent farm diversification project which will help to create both direct and indirect local employment, generate a non land based income stream for the farming business and also assist new and expanding small businesses in west Cornwall.” Mr Rowe is confident that the units will let quickly and there is already a waiting list. It is hoped the building work on the project will start in the next week or so.

The project has received financial backing from Business Link via the Objective One umbrella project the Rural Diversification Capital Grant Initiative. Further assistance with an initial viability assessment of the scheme was provided by Business Link’s Rural Business Support Initiative. The application for grant aid took just over 3 months from start to finish and is a good example of how Business Link and independent consultants such as Stags are successfully working together to deliver the benefits of the Objective One Programme to farmers in Cornwall. The project is also being supported by Ian Hobson Designs, The Mather Partnership, Lloyds TSB Bank, NFU Mutual Insurance, Helston Town Council and Kerrier District Council.

For further information please contact Gareth Rowe on 01872 264488.