150 acres / business ideas ?

[barry502]

Hi,

Looking for some ideas from you guys, my situation is this -

My fiances parents own 150 acres of land and currently just rent it out to local farmers for crop production (minimal rental). They are not really interested in this land, it just generates some pocket money for them??

Me being me (very business minded) just cannot understand why they do not diversify. Their land is situated a mere 5 minute walk from the outskirts of a heavily populated (middle class) town.

I am looking for some ideas here, to dte we have come up with the following

• Trout fishery
• Livery for horses (we have a huge steading that could be converted)
• Cattery
• Boarding Kennels
• Childs play centre (I think this would go down well but huge start up costs)
• Activity centre - Fishing, cafe,interactive farm, quad bike track, clay pigeon shooting etc etc (build a brand bit by bit)
• Allotments (not much revenue)

An overview of our area is basically loads of young families (target market) with money to spend and nowhere local to go that offers them a great day out for all the family.......

I am currently a manager in the oil industry and my fiance is a senior medical rep and we have a combined income approaching £120k but we are desperate to escape the rat race and start something new and exciting for us to work on. We are realists and know it will be tough but we have a head start re. the land and the location - I really think we can do something great here and have success and the way of life we crave.

In summary - Do any of you guys know what the best ideas would be for such a piece of land - basically what sort of things generate the most interest / income ???

Sorry for the life story - Any ideas greatly appreciated !!

Thanks

 

[estwig]

An airfield with a flying school.

Little dream of mine for semi retirement, but you can share my dream, maybe make it a reality.

The problem you will face is getting planning permission, for any kind of building you want to put on the land. Like a small aircraft hanger.

 

[Stephen Berry]

Where are you geographically? What is the competition and the split between potential children / family / big boys toys / hen/stag / corporate events? My bias of experience is towards the corporate - and corporate customers will travel - I took a group from London to do an event in Yorkshire and my wife went last week from Surrey to participate in an event in Devon.

On the family side - we love these guys. www.goape.co.uk (going again next week .... hurrah).

On the corporate side, there are lots of 'playing in the woods masquerading as team building events' locations but considerably fewer who interface credible behavioural and leadership development to actually build teams and develop leadership skills.

 

[sellickbhoy]

A local garden centre has started renting out allotments because the council can't provide them and because there is huge demand for people wanting to grow their own now.

You could divide a few acres up into plots. charge a tenner a month rental.

Most folk would want a shed on it, so you'd need to buy and erect a lot of sheds and put some security fencing/hedging around it - so there would be a bit of outlay

 

[Vending Siting Services]

Are there any restrictions to land usage? This may have an impact on any business idea you may have. I am sure you may have to have planning permission for change of usage.

Barbara

 

[barry502]

Stephen,

We are based just 15 miles from Aberdeen (Oil capital of Europe) so we are well placed for the corporate side of things. A friend of mine actually owns an activity centre "LOCHTER" - this is my inspiration to some extent but they have a huge set up and the start up costs would be way out of our league. Our aim is to start small and build on it.

It is just a question of what do we start with ?

I like the allotment idea as I know there is a demand but the figures don't really stack up (in my mind) - by the time I develop the site and add a shed on each plot etc there is not much return........£10.00 per month per plot is not really what I am after. It would take 2 years just to pay for the shed and the development costs. Not for me.

As far as I am aware there is no restrictions on the land (but I would have to investigate this further down the line).

Any ideas from people who have done it ?

Thanks

 

[sellickbhoy]

Stephen,

We are based just 15 miles from Aberdeen (Oil capital of Europe) so we are well placed for the corporate side of things. A friend of mine actually owns an activity centre "LOCHTER" - this is my inspiration to some extent but they have a huge set up and the start up costs would be way out of our league. Our aim is to start small and build on it.

It is just a question of what do we start with ?

I like the allotment idea as I know there is a demand but the figures don't really stack up (in my mind) - by the time I develop the site and add a shed on each plot etc there is not much return........£10.00 per month per plot is not really what I am after. It would take 2 years just to pay for the shed and the development costs. Not for me.

As far as I am aware there is no restrictions on the land (but I would have to investigate this further down the line).

Any ideas from people who have done it ?

Thanks

offer a bare plot and if they want a shed - £200, water tank, £50 etc

though allotments are often attacked by vandals, - so there is no real getting around the security aspect.

However, why not approach the local "green" organisations and find out if there is a demand for plots, find out if the council can/will provide them - and if they can't, find out why not.

You could offer the land to the council and have them pay for the development/security/management of the allotments

check the River Cottage site, i'm sure they have a campaign on using land for plots and there is a legal requirement for councils to provide the plots if people ask for it (though it has taken 3 years so far in may area - and still no closer to having it in place)

the council then rent a few acres off you at a better rate than the farmers.

then once the plots are in place - the gardeners need a tea/coffee/sandwich, somewhere to buy seeds, plants, tools - ideal place to start a wee nursery/coffee shop

Also, I would offer a dog walking/dog day care facility - not a kennels, where you need a licence. But simple pen in a few acres, get a field shelter and some dog cages. then folk can drop dogs off before 9 am collect after 4pm - you charge a tenner a day per dog and let it have free reign to run around

you can offer a collection/drop off/dog walking service = collecting after 9 returning before 4 for 15 per day per dog.

I know someone who takes 16 dogs a day and all she does is lets them run around her field all day.

easy money if you get some minimum wage youngster needing work to keep an eye on them

 

[barry502]

Thanks for that, that is exactly the type of reply I was looking for - keep the ideas coming !!

Any more ??

I am looking for as many ideas as possible so that I can go out and thoroughly research each.

I like your stance on the allotments - shed (perhaps greenhouses at additional cost) - coffee shop etc.........this is exactly what gets me thinking.

Keep em coming !!

Thanks

 

[Digger]

To be honest - I've had thoughts about Allotments ( in conjunction with other related business)- which is how I came across these guys
http://www.cornwallallotments.com/page7.htm

But it needn't be just that - with the amount of land you are talking about, you could have several income streams. Individually perhaps small -Taken as a whole a nice earner.

 

[paultnl]

You may want to check this out about change of use.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/landmanage/land-use/

 

[gemd89]

If i had land, i would do car boot sales, £10 per stall every week on a sunday 6am-midday!

Up in dewsbury the local car boot gets about 100 stalls a week, thats £1000 a week, so £52000 a year for nothing really

Gemma

 

[papverpoppies]

If i had land, i would do car boot sales, £10 per stall every week on a sunday 6am-midday!

Up in dewsbury the local car boot gets about 100 stalls a week, thats £1000 a week, so £52000 a year for nothing really

Gemma

Same here..if the Council will let you, not a bad little earner for a few acres, and you still have bags of land left to play with.

You would probably need to look at hard standing for parking, and not sure how car booting would go on soggy grass.

Poppy xx

 

[estwig]

If i had land, i would do car boot sales, £10 per stall every week on a sunday 6am-midday!

Up in dewsbury the local car boot gets about 100 stalls a week, thats £1000 a week, so £52000 a year for nothing really

Gemma

Except the fees to the council, tax man, wages for car park attendants, porta loos, advertising, insurance, accountants fees, bookkeepers, stationary and H&S stuff.

Apart from that £1k a week, lovely jubbly!!

 

[QuickHomeBuyers]

Perhaps OP needs to understand a little more about verbal tenancies before thinking about business plans.

 

[gemd89]

Stationery? Ive never seen a portaloo at a car boot?

Insurance for what? In case someone slips on the grass..the blame claim in this country has gone mad. What are we paying council for?

Tax man..will let you have that one.

Health and safety in a field?

Gemma

 

[gemd89]

He can also do his own accounts, business link run free courses, not difficult,

Week 1 - 230 stalls - £230
Insurance - £20
Council - £10
Total - £200

Simple

 

[QuickHomeBuyers]

He can also do his own accounts, business link run free courses, not difficult,

Week 1 - 230 stalls - £230
Insurance - £20
Council - £10
Total - £200

Simple

Minimum £100 fine for messing up the accounts. Simple.

 

[sanjiv]

This would have high start up costs but a golf course could be very successful on the outskirts of a middle class town. You could perhaps start developing it and let people use it like setup a driving range and then move onto pitch and putt and then do 9 holes and then do the other 9. Problem with doing it in stages is that they might get a taste of the cherry and join a competitor.

 

[estwig]

He can also do his own accounts, business link run free courses, not difficult,

Week 1 - 230 stalls - £230
Insurance - £20
Council - £10
Total - £200

Simple

You keep selling them dresses, eh darling!

 

[QuickHomeBuyers]

Can you please advise OP to understand verbal/oral tenancy/lease first? It may be a case OP has to wait months before he can realise his dream?

Because they accept rent, they are bound in the L&T Act.

 

[gemd89]

I did business management and accounts at college thanks - passed with distinction. I do my own accounts.

Gemma

 

[estwig]

I did business management and accounts at college thanks - passed with distinction. I do my own accounts.

Gemma

Good!

Does it help??



BTW, I got a City and guilds level 2 in pottery and clay modelling, didn't get a distinction, me pot was too wobbly.

 

[peebles]

Haven't read all the replies so forgive me if it's already been said. My dad owns land and I think a marquee would be fantastic on his land. People love marquees, especially the exclusivity of it. That's what I would do with it, run corporate events, weddings, parties, but then again I love parties so it would probably suit me.

 

[barry502]

Thanks for all the replies.

The one that stands out is the post about tenancy rights. As far as I am aware the farmers who rent the land are all pretty much friends of the family and I "think" the agreement is verbal year upon year. The land is predominantly used for grazing and Barley / wheat production - the fields are rotated every year (something to do with nutrients?). Obviously because we have access to 150 acres only a small portion of this land would be used to start with so it was my thinking that if we expand in whatever field then we could basically "call off" the rental farmers. I know for a fact that one of them (there are only 2 that rent from us) is a millionaire and surely the loss of a couple of fields would hardly bother him.........maybe I am wrong??

I like the marquee idea as there is a desperate need for function type facilities around my area. I think alot of folks would like the "country" type surroundings. The council may be the problem here though ? Alchohol Licensing laws etc.

One of the fields is about 15 acres and is basically unused waste ground due to the boggy nature - my idea here was to excavate it and turn it into a rainbow trout fishery (I know it is not as easy as that but this about all this particular piece of land is good for).

Also, my whole idea here is to create multiple income streams as suggested by an earlier poster. Horse Livery / Riding school / fishery / marquee / cafe / allotments / Driving range.......... - that type of thing. Build it up little by little and develop a sort of "out of town" centre that caters for all the family. Our location is absolutely ideal for this.

Myself and my partner are fairly young (early 30's) and if we don't do it now we never will. There is not too much risk involved either IMO...........I am a natural risk taker so my idea of risk and my partners may differ !!!

Back to the original post - Ideas of what we could do? I guess what I want to know is what would be the most LUCRATIVE idea you guys can come up with - something that would SELL all year round?

Thanks

 

[british steve]

Hi,

Looking for some ideas from you guys, my situation is this -

My fiances parents own 150 acres of land and currently just rent it out to local farmers for crop production (minimal rental). They are not really interested in this land, it just generates some pocket money for them??

Me being me (very business minded) just cannot understand why they do not diversify. Their land is situated a mere 5 minute walk from the outskirts of a heavily populated (middle class) town.

I am looking for some ideas here, to dte we have come up with the following

• Trout fishery
• Livery for horses (we have a huge steading that could be converted)
• Cattery
• Boarding Kennels
• Childs play centre (I think this would go down well but huge start up costs)
• Activity centre - Fishing, cafe,interactive farm, quad bike track, clay pigeon shooting etc etc (build a brand bit by bit)
• Allotments (not much revenue)

An overview of our area is basically loads of young families (target market) with money to spend and nowhere local to go that offers them a great day out for all the family.......

I am currently a manager in the oil industry and my fiance is a senior medical rep and we have a combined income approaching £120k but we are desperate to escape the rat race and start something new and exciting for us to work on. We are realists and know it will be tough but we have a head start re. the land and the location - I really think we can do something great here and have success and the way of life we crave.

In summary - Do any of you guys know what the best ideas would be for such a piece of land - basically what sort of things generate the most interest / income ???

Sorry for the life story - Any ideas greatly appreciated !!

Thanks

Carbon offset tree planting!

 

[Billmccallum]

Barry502

Your first port of call should be the local planning officers and getting hold of a local development plan, which will outline the proposed development opportunties for the area, highlight development proposals and boundaries and identify areas where development is specifically excluded (SSSI, AONB, etc).

Many local authorities will have things they want to develop and things they dont want to see at all, for example, new business units.

If you be a little more specific about location (local authority ward), I can offer some advice.

 

[barry502]

Bill,

I have not gone as far as that for the simple reason that I do not know what I want to do or propose to do.

I think I need to discuss this in more detail with my fiances parents and find out from the local authorities what our options "may" be.

How do I go about doing this ? Do I phone up and make an appointment or is this information readily available for our site?

Excuse my ignorance here but this type of "business idea" is pretty new to me.

Any advice - greatly appreciated !

Thanks
Barry

 

[barry502]

Steve,

Carbon offset tree planting ? Can you elaborate on this ?

I take it it is some sort of government run scheme similar to "set aside" where you can get grants for planting trees ? Excuse my ignorance !!

 

[jelly3]

I saw this last year. It really surprised me how many people were there. I was not invited but there was a video.

SAT/SUN do a HEN & STAG weekend.
Include the cost of coach pickup on a sat do it for a max of 20-25 people per team on a sunday a max of 10-12 people per team.
6-8 teams at a time. You could do 3 per day.
A adult it's a knockout style competition, or
The Kryton factor type assault course.

Offer a buffet lunch and breakfast.
Give the winning group a prize/s, champers or a chocolate basket or both.

During the week you aim this at businesses or have whole weekends who want team building stuff. Plant some trees and do orienting.
Get an alcohol licence.

You have to like people to do this one.

book yourself onto the link provided by Stephen Berry, if you don't like it yourself you probably would not like to do it for someone else.

ann-marie

 

[Billmccallum]

Bill,

I have not gone as far as that for the simple reason that I do not know what I want to do or propose to do.

I think I need to discuss this in more detail with my fiances parents and find out from the local authorities what our options "may" be.

How do I go about doing this ? Do I phone up and make an appointment or is this information readily available for our site?

Excuse my ignorance here but this type of "business idea" is pretty new to me.

Any advice - greatly appreciated !

Thanks
Barry

Barry

The big issue for you is that to approach the parents, it would be useful to be armed with some information and to formulate a few ideas which you can present to them (options if you like, they may not like your first idea, so have some back-ups).

The information on development plans can usually be found on the net, but ift helps if you know where to look and what to look for...which is why I asked about the local authority ward, with that detail I can get hold of some data for you.

I offer free online business advice, so don't expect an invoice.

Bill

 

[adventurelife]

Barry

Ideas are great but making them happen is something else. All you have got is some land outside Aberdeen without planning

I am not trying to be negative but this is the market I live for in Scotland. It is not easy. Your location is not an advantage it is a negative, all you will get is the Aberdeen market which although rich tends to like to travel.

Also it is seasonal so all year round is near impossible.

You need to be able to invest in gear and buildings/people before you know where you are it is well into 6 figures and not at the lower end.

If you want to talk this through I will be back in Scotland next month and happy to bounce ideas around.

 

[truesilver]

Hi

There were lots of grants for farmers to convert their land to leisure type businesses (horses, quad biking etc) but I'm not sure if they're still around.

I would say grazing would be a great place to start (especially for horses). For that kind of size you could actually fit several of the businesses you've mentioned on them.

Low maintenance type businesses would be the grazing, allotments etc.

There is quite a bit to be made in farming though at the moment with eco fuels being on the rise - why not look into farming yourself?

 

[Kirstyflash]

If i had the land i would have a horse livery yard! I would get a nice block of stables up, sand school, indoor school people pay alot per week for one stable....sorry this is my dream ill wake up in a minuit.

 

[barry502]

Thanks all,

Bill, what do you mean by local authority WARD ? Is this simply my area ?

In answer to some earlier posts, it is my idea to be an all year attraction / business not seasonal. In other words I need to have attractions / services that I can offer all year round. Maybe allotments / activities in the summer and in winter full Horse Livery / trout fishery / Small cafe / santas grotto etc.

I think the easiest way for us to start something is Full Horse Livery. I built 2 stables last year for my fiances horses and there are already 20 acres being used as horse grazing. There is a huge steading with old cattle courts that could easily be cleared out and 10-20 stables built. I would have to invest in an outdoor school in order to attract premium prices but I could live with this. Also, there is a small 2 bedroom cottage which is not being used which I could pretty easily convert into a cafe over looking the riding school..??

I think I will investigate all these possibilities thoroughly and then as Bill says present them to my fiances parents. Thinking about it now, there is also a 17 acre fir tree wood which could be used as a sort of cross country course for horses or simply for pony rides.....

All sounds good in theory but obviously a lot of planning will be required - OHHHH and forgot to mention I HATE HORSES !!!

Thanks
Barry

 

[truesilver]

lol - Can I suggest that you are more likely to have success doing something you love rather than something just to earn money... it makes those long hours so much more rewarding!

I love horses... I miss my rescued ex racehorse...

 

Dependant on what planning consent you may obtain and the price of land.?

I would consider selling the land and using the capital to start a more lucrative business.

My opinion is that people who own land with no planning permission for building seem to scratch around with various low return esoteric schemes.

Not saying if you have the right plan and know the right people you could not start something worthwhile,but as said most seem to go for lifestyle schemes that suit there particular bent.IMHO

Earl

 

[barry502]

If I went down the Livery route, I would get my fiance to manage that side of it. I would do all the setting up, research etc etc and then get her to run the place - she is very organised and would do a good job. It would be my intention to carry on working full time until such time as the business expanded enough to warrant leaving my job. My day job is manager of an engineering workshop for the oil and gas industry so I am pretty much well versed in the financial side of business which would stand me in good stead for any future venture.

Obviously, we would be trying to create multiple income streams so I could then work on the next idea (something that interests me) and then progress that way. I enjoy the challenge of setting up something - something that the whole family could work on and build for the future.

 

[barry502]

Earl,

I hear what you are saying but this land has been in the family for almost 200 years - I don't think it would be an option to sell.

I would not be doing this to become extremely rich..........more of a lifestyle change that earns us a decent living.

All that being said, I think that there is a genuine opportunity here (if done correctly) to have a very lucrative business - maybe not lucrative as individual small businesses but lacrative as one big overall venture (in time).

 

[Magenta]

Non-GM food crops. Trust me, in a few years, you'll be indispensable. Mind you, the government will probably shut you down first. Search for 'The World According To Monsanto'.

 

[Urban Publications]

Hi

If I had 150 acres of land I wouldnt be thinking of running a business, I would let the land be my business, I would go down a more leisure for corporates and include

Quad Biking
Laser/Clay pidgeon Shoots
Motocrossing
Honda Pilots
Horse Riding
Paintballing

Find people who already run these types of business in Scotland and see if they want to expand and rent land off you dont do all the hardwork yourself, you have the land, people are always looking out for land to run the types of business above but is very difficult with the councils for obvious reasons like noise pollution etc but 150 acres you should be able to get around this issue.