Farm Park Attraction Business Plans
Farm park attractions occupy a distinctive place within the wider visitor attraction sector, combining animal experiences with play, nature, events, catering and retail to create memorable family days out. As visitor expectations rise and competition increases from other days-out options, well-established farm parks are having to continually reinvest in new play features, events programmes, catering offers and, in some cases, visitor accommodation to protect their market position and increase their visitor numbers, particularly given the challenging nature of the marketplace.
Our research-led approach draws on our experience across the wider visitor attraction and countryside recreation sector to help farm park operators make evidence-based decisions, from initial feasibility studies and masterplans through to business plans covering catering, events, play, visitor accommodation and retail. We help clients understand their drivetime catchment, benchmarked against comparable attractions, and build realistic financial projections
Our Work
Some of the clients we have worked with on farm-based visitor attractions include:
- Hampshire County Council: Feasibility and visitor experience planning for Staunton Farm
- Hampshire County Council: Feasibility and visitor experience planning for Manor Farm
- Kent Life: Initial reopening support and development advice
- Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation: Farm park visitor attraction business plan
- Butser Ancient Farm Community Interest Company: Feasibility study and masterplan (with a landscape architect) to develop the product
- Private investor: Due diligence review of an existing farm park operation
Find out more about our farm park projects here.
Operational Experience of Managing Farm Parks and Other Visitor Attractions
Our expertise in advising farm park and visitor attraction clients is grounded in direct, hands-on experience of operating attractions. Our sister company, Planning Solutions Limited, has been investing in, developing and managing visitor attractions, heritage, activity, leisure and accommodation businesses for 29 years, giving us a strong commercial realism that pure consultancy firms can’t match.
The clearest example within the farm park sector is Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, a 28-acre working farm park experience on the outskirts of Maidstone. Planning Solutions Limited has managed Kent Life on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council, investing in and enhancing the visitor experience. The attraction combines farm animals, a Vintage Village exploring rural Kentish life through Victorian times, WWII and the 1950s, the last working coal-fired Oast House, orchards and farmhouse gardens, alongside play areas, farm rides, catering outlets, an events programme and a membership offer. Managing an attraction of this kind ourselves gives us first-hand insight into the day-to-day realities of farm park operations, from seasonal visitor flows and event programming to catering, retail and membership schemes.
This operational experience extends across a wider portfolio of visitor attractions managed by our sister company, including CONKERS, a £19 million day visitor attraction in the National Forest, and Cotswold Country Park and Beach, a water-based activity experience in Gloucestershire, as well as a hotel and brewery businesses. Having actually managed attractions, rather than simply advised on them, means we bring practical, tested thinking to every farm park business plan and feasibility study we produce, helping clients set realistic, achievable targets for visitor numbers, income and investment.
What Our Clients Say
“We have been pleased to work with Planning Solutions as part of the review of our family farm attraction, known as Standalone Farm. We found their advice valuable and relevant, particularly as they are able to point to practical examples from the facilities that they manage. This has been of great assistance in determining the next steps of our improvement programme”. David Ames, Head of Heritage and Strategic Planning, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation
“PSC have worked with us to develop a feasibility report for the proposed future development of the farm site. The document that has been produced is detailed and well-researched. It is now forming a major part of our planning for some exciting changes. The report has given us a clear approach to take forward.
It has been a pleasure to work with Richard and Kevin. They were able to bring considerable experience and had great understanding of practical considerations. We have enjoyed working with them and are happy to recommend them to others.” Maureen Page, Director, Butser Ancient Farm
Talk To Us About Your Farm Park Project
Every farm park is different, and the right next step depends on your site, your visitors and your ambitions. Whether you’re planning a new play area, reviewing your events programme, expanding catering or retail, or thinking about visitor accommodation, we’d welcome the chance to discuss it.
We support farm park operators at every stage, from early feasibility studies and options appraisals through to fully costed business plans that give you and your funders confidence in the numbers.
Please feel free to get in touch to talk through your farm park project. Call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk