Rural Economic Support

Stafford Borough Rural Workspace Programme

What Is It?

A programme of support aimed at helping farmers investigate the option of diversifying, into converting unused buildings they have into rural workspace for small businesses.

Who runs it?

Stafford Borough Council with partners including the Country Land and Business Association, National Farmers Union, Staffordshire Rural Hub and Forum and Staffordshire County Council.

What support can a farmer get from the programme?

Firstly one-day seminars are being run for farmers covering the following:

• Scenario planning to assist farmers to determine the impact and benefit of the converting their buildings.
• Information on planning and highway implications with members of the Borough Council's Planning Team on hand to give initial advice.
• Details on the types of buildings that may be most appropriate for conversion.
• The type of business tenants that may be attracted to rural workspace.
• How the conversion of buildings might affect a farmer's eligibility for agricultural rate relief and other tax issues.
• The legalities of becoming a landlord for business premises.
• Information on grant funding to help with associated costs such as business planning and actual conversion.
• How to finance the non-grant part of any project.

Seminars run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sugnall Business Centre just outside of Eccleshall, with a cost of just £10 to each farmer, thanks to subsided funding from Stafford Borough Council and Enterprise Works the training arm of the CLA.

Secondly, the opportunity of receiving individual specialist site visits to receive advise on the potential of a farmers buildings in terms of workspace.  This support is free of charge to the farmer thanks to funding from Stafford Borough Council and the Staffordshire Rural Hub.

Thirdly, grant funding of up to 50% of costs (max of £3,300) is available to eligible farmers, towards things such as business planning, feasibility studies, architect fees and surveyor costs etc.  Advice is also available on other sources of funding such as the Redundant Farm Buildings Grant, which offers funding at 25% of project costs up to a maximum of £62,500 towards the cost of conversion.

Finally, advice and support for farmers in terms of marketing and promoting their units as rural workspace to potential tenants.

Who can I contact for further information?

Mary Timmis, Economic Development Officer at Stafford Borough Council on telephone 01785 619584 or mtimmis@staffordbc.gov.uk