Hadrian’s Wall comes up trumps

WHEN IT came to considering a diversification project, it was very hard for Jeff Laws to ignore the importance of his farm”s location. For the Hadrian”s Wall footpath runs right alongside 95ha (235-acre) Houghton North Farm, near Heddon-on-the-Wall, and accommodation in the area is scarce.

But the result of his labours, a motel which opened this Easter, is not a hotel or B&B in the conventional sense. Mr Laws describes it as “somewhere between a hostel and a bed-and-breakfast”.

Making use of two pig-fattening sheds that had been empty for decades, it caters for a maximum of 26 guests, with six bedrooms, a kitchen, drying room and TV room. About 230,000 has been spent on the project, which received a grant of almost 116,000 towards total costs from DEFRA”s Rural Enterprise scheme.

It took about six weeks from the initial grant application to get a decision. Payments were offered in three instalments, to ease cash flow.

“It is important to have a carefully-prepared business plan which includes all projected costings before applying,” says Mr Laws. “The bidding process is competitive, and any unforeseen expenditure cannot be claimed for afterwards.” Local support was vital. “I gathered letters of support from the parish council and local businesses, who confirmed that the whole area would benefit from an increase in tourism. I also employ at least two people to help run the new business, which also strengthened my application,” he says.

“Outline planning approval was needed before the grant could even be considered,” says Mr Laws. “That held things up more than anything, and the fact that the buildings are Grade Two listed made it even more complicated. I must have put in more than 100 versions of the building design before my application was accepted.”

Wendy Short