Longcroft Farm

Creating a thriving rural destination through a long-term farm diversification strategy

Client

Longcroft Farm

Location

Yeovil, Somerset

RIBA Work Stages

Stages 0-7

Services

Town Planning, Architecture

Overview

Longcroft Farm has evolved from a traditional working farm into a successful rural destination through a carefully planned diversification programme. Working alongside the farm owners, BoonBrown helped unlock new opportunities that would strengthen the long-term viability of the business while respecting the character and function of the operational farm.

The diversification strategy delivered a series of complementary developments, including a farm shop and restaurant, holiday accommodation and wider visitor facilities, creating new income streams while enhancing the farm’s connection with the local community and wider visitor economy.

Planning challenges

Creating a planning framework that supported commercial growth while safeguarding the qualities of the countryside.

Farm diversification can play a vital role in supporting the future of rural businesses, yet new development within the countryside often requires careful navigation of planning policy.

At Longcroft Farm, the challenge was to secure planning support for a growing range of commercial, tourism and leisure uses whilst ensuring that the scale, design and operation of the developments remained appropriate to their rural setting. Each proposal needed to demonstrate a genuine link to the working farm, contribute positively to the local economy and avoid adverse impacts on the surrounding landscape and countryside character.

As the diversification strategy expanded, it was important that individual planning applications formed part of a coherent long-term vision for the site rather than a series of isolated developments.

Our approach

Combining planning expertise and long-term thinking to unlock sustainable rural growth.

BoonBrown worked closely with the client to establish a clear diversification strategy that aligned business ambitions with planning policy objectives.

Through ongoing planning advice and engagement with the Local Planning Authority, we helped develop a series of proposals that reinforced the farm’s economic sustainability while maintaining the operational integrity of the agricultural holding.

Key elements of the strategy included:

Demonstrating the economic benefits of diversification to support the long-term future of the farm business.
Ensuring new development remained closely connected to the existing agricultural operation.
Delivering high-quality design that complemented the character of the farm and wider landscape.
Creating visitor-focused facilities that broadened the site’s appeal and year-round activity.
Establishing a phased approach that allowed the diversification project to evolve over time while maintaining a clear planning narrative.

Outcome

Helping secure the future of a family farm through thoughtful diversification and planning-led growth.

The planning strategy has enabled Longcroft Farm to diversify beyond traditional agricultural operations, creating a destination that combines farming, food, hospitality and tourism in a way that remains rooted in its rural setting.

The approved developments have introduced valuable new revenue streams, broadened visitor appeal and created opportunities for ongoing business resilience. The farm shop, restaurant and holiday accommodation work together to support a stronger and more sustainable rural enterprise while maintaining the character and function of the working farm.

This project demonstrates the value of proactive planning advice in helping rural businesses adapt, evolve and thrive, ensuring that farms can continue to play a vital role in the economic, environmental and social fabric of the countryside.