Pitchcott Farm - Courtyard Redevelopment
Redeveloping a redundant Victorian courtyard into a multifaceted rural hub centred around nature connectivity, education, and wellbeing.
Project Particulars
Client: Private Landowner
Location: Buckinghamshire
Pitchcott Farm is a 160-acre grassland holding in Buckinghamshire with a disused Victorian stable yard and two adjacent concrete-framed agricultural buildings. Whislt historically, the business has achieved modest grazing income, occasional Airbnb rentals, and a small camping enterprise, the site’s potential was largely untapped. Planning permission for the redevelopment of the courtyard was granted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Services Provided
Estate Masterplanning
Business planning and modelling
Raising finance
Grant acquisition
Procurement
Construction project management & coordination
The Objective:
To redevelop and transform a disused Victorian courtyard into a mixed-use rural hub, comprising a farm shop, cafe, venue, concessionary business units, and short-term accommodation, centred around nature connectivity, education and wellbeing.
The Challenge:
Underutilised built assets
Undefined business case
Lack of development strategy
Asbsentee landowner
Undefined financing strategy
The Approach:
We were appointed to provide a comprehensive service, bringing strategic clarity, structure, and momentum to a previously underutilised site on this holding. Beginning with an Estate Feasibility Planning, we set out a phased strategy that balanced the ambition of creating a vibrant rural hub with the practical realities of finance, delivery, and long-term operation of the business, centred around wellness and nature connectivity.
Post Estate Feasibility Planning, we helped the client define the business case and operating model, ensuring that the landowner had a clear understanding of required capital investment, potential returns, and management requirements. Financial modelling was then undertaken to test different scenarios and establish a sustainable route forward.
Through comprehensive business and financial planning, required by funding and finance bodies, we worked with the client to secure £300,000 of Rural England Prosperity Fund grant funding, raise bank finance, and structure the investment case in a way that would enable staged construction delivery to meet tight grant deadlines, whilst minimising risk. Alongside this, we engaged with agents and local businesses to source prospective concessionary businesses to pre-let key elements of the development, providing security of income and further reducing risk.
The construction programme was carefully procured and managed to reflect the complexity of the project. This included restoration of the Victorian courtyard, sensitive integration of new-build elements, and part refurbishment of the adjacent concrete-framed barns. Sustainable design and materials principles were embedded throughout, with a focus on the use of natural materials and landscape-led design to enhance visitor experience. Our team diligently project-managed the process, from planning through construction, ensuring project delivery to satisfactory cost, time and quality standards, all whilst working to address unforeseen challenges synonymous with redevelopment projects.
The Approach:
The redevelopment has transformed the disused stable yard into a thriving rural destination. The farm shop and café now provide a focal point for the visitors, while the venue allows for a variety of functions and events, supported by the catering of café. The concessionary units support a range of small businesses aligned with wellbeing, sustainable artisan food production, and wellbeing. Short-term accommodation has created an additional income stream and broadened the site’s appeal to visitors.
Through our integrated project process, from Estate Feasibility Planning, business case development, finance and grant acquisition, procurement, and construction project management, the landowner has realised a long-held ambition to repurpose redundant assets into a resilient and future-facing rural enterprise.
The project has not only delivered economic returns but also established Pitchcott Farm as a hub for education, community, enterprise, and nature connection, creating a strong platform for the continuation of the long-term legacy of the rural business and continued diversification.
Project Team:
Lead Consultant: Alexander Moss (DPA)
Project Manager: Sean Enright (DPA)
Project Team:
Ecology: Applied Ecology
Building Surveyors: Peak Building Consultants
Engineering: CentreSpace
Contractors: NSBS UK and Ireland, Minerva Plumbing and Heating and Hopkins Electrica
Looking to diversify your farm or start your next rural project? Get in touch to see how we can assist you.
