Posted on: Wednesday 13 September 2023
Next week, Torfaen councillors will consider the latest report on the proposed reopening of Greenmeadow Community Farm.
The report sets out the 2 viable options for councillors - either additional investment or the closure of the 120-acre site.
The additional investment proposals will aim to turn Greenmeadow Community Farm into a popular regional visitor attraction, bringing in sufficient paying visitors to generate sustained profits and end the council’s annual subsidy of the farm.
The project is being led by Coley Hill Consultants (CHC) on behalf of the council, working with Gaunt Francis Architects and a team of engineers and surveyors. CHC are professionally qualified and experienced in tourism and hospitality and have worked on major tourism attractions such as the Eden Project, Kew Gardens and The Wave in Bristol.
The revised cost to reopen the farm has risen to £3,738,900 with the farm now forecast to return profits from 2029/30 at which point visitor numbers are estimated to reach over one-hundred thousand people.
The request for additional funding of £1,641,400 would come from the council’s capital programme. The investment will deliver an exciting visitor attraction including new and extended cafés with soft play, new all-weather indoor hard play facilities and improved retail opportunities. The café and retail areas would use and promote local produce and suppliers as part of the offer. The farm would also have new event spaces in the Haybarn to encourage new customers for community activities and private hire.
A revamped education space and dairy will be over 2 floors, offering activities for schools, colleges, community groups and all other visitors. The space will be utilised for animal petting, events and demonstrations.
Significant landscaping will also enhance the natural environment and play host to a range of outdoor experiences including woodland trails, pollination trail, and sensory paths. The outside play provision will also be upgraded as part of the proposal.
General admissions is proposed to be set at £8.50 with local membership passes at £24 and school visits at £5 per pupil. CHC benchmarked admissions against 14 similar attractions across South Wales and Southern England.
Torfaen Council’s executive member for communities, Cllr Fiona Cross, said: ‘I know the decision facing members isn’t straightforward given the current financial climate but these are really exciting proposals which support our County Plan to make Torfaen a thriving place to live and visit and helps protect our rural heritage and open spaces.
‘The proposed investment will make the farm a premier visitor attraction in the region, and part of our Destination Torfaen offer. It will repay the capital investment and produce a surplus for future reinvestment in facilities, keeping the visitor offer fresh.
‘The additional investment will attract visitors all year-round with an increased focus on the outdoor visitor experience, responding to demand from visitors for more all-weather activity, authentic experiences with animals, time spent outside in nature and use of natural materials and landscape for outdoor play.
‘The new barn space will provide opportunities for weddings, parties, community activities and an events programme, ensuring the farm serves as an important hub within the wider community.
‘Crucially for the farm to reopen it is vital we must make the animal barn and wider site safe and make journeys around the farm accessible to all visitors.’
If the proposals are approved by councillors the farm will remain closed while the work is completed and will reopen no later than April 2025.
To read the full report visit Agenda for Council on Tuesday 19th September 2023