Defra Minister supports Ruthvoes Barn Project
Dec 19, 2011 - 02:20 PM
L - R: James Hetherington, SmithsGore; Ian Bell, Addington Fund Director; Suzanne Johns, Owner Ron Bullock&Sons; Councillor Pat Harvey, Adam Birchall, Cornwall County Council; Russell Wheeler, Cornwall County Council Farms Dept.
Councillor Pat Harvey, Chair of Cornwall Council, today officially launched the start of work to convert a set of redundant farm buildings into four work/live units at Ruthvoes in Cornwall.
The Ruthvoes Farm Project is the latest initiative of Addington Fund to support the farming community. The affordable units will create new business opportunities across the age spectrum and invigorate a local rural community strongly influenced by second-home ownership.
This project only goes ahead because of access to funding from the Rural Development Programme for England which is contributing €500,000 towards the cost of developing the work places.
Defra Minister, Jim Paice said,
“This is exactly the sort of project we want to encourage. A shortage of suitable work premises is a key challenge for many rural businesses and it’s great to see these disused farm buildings being put to good use for the local community.
“As we announced in our rural growth review, we’re cutting red tape to make it easier to turn farm buildings to business uses that support new opportunities for rural enterprises like in Ruthvoes.”