Horton Cross Farm secures grant
Following a recent decision by Somerset Rural Renaissance Partnership, Horton Cross farmers Andrew and Marilyn Osborne have begun work on converting the barns on the farm into a business hospitality centre.

The £76,000 grant has levered in an additional £300,000 of private sector money.

Andrew Osborne said:

“Since the dairy business closed down in 2005, we have been developing this project. We are thrilled that it is finally going ahead. We are very grateful for the support we have had from Somerset Rural Renaissance Partnership, our landlords and the rest of the team who have believed in our vision.”

‘The Monks Yard’ is an innovative business hospitality hub which will be a centre of activity for the local and passing trade as well as a community in its own right. The first phase, which will be complete by the end of 2007 will include conferencing rooms, a café and a suite of offices and hot-desking for micro businesses.

The listed buildings are being given a new lease of life, sensitively renovated for new usage, and simultaneously being the key to keep the farm economically viable.
Corinne Matthews representing SRRP said:

“We are delighted that SRRP’s money has been the key to unlock Horton Cross Farm’s potential. ‘The Monks Yard’ is a high quality project in a fabulous location and has a strong team delivering it.”

Notes to Editors:
For more information please contact Daniel Brewer on 07956 557485. Monks Yard is a trading name of the Horton Cross Partnership, a family business farming over 300 acres of land in Somerset. Andrew Osborne 01460 52854 www.themonksyard.co.uk

Resonance Limited is a private company specialising in social enterprise investment and economic development. Daniel Brewer 0845 0043432 www.resonance.ltd.uk

Somerset Rural Renaissance Partnership came together in 2004 and consists of 25 agencies with an interest in helping to revitalise rural areas. Since early 2005 the Partnership has successfully bid for investment funds of £2.5 million from the South West of England Regional Development Agency's Rural Renaissance Programme, and commenced the Scheme in Somerset on April 28th 2005. All of these funds have now been allocated to over 40 different projects across the County to cover both revenue and capital expenditure through to March 31st 2008. Somerset County Council acts as the acountable body for the Partnership.