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What's
Wrong With Greenhouses?

The greenhouses: potentially a viable proposition
that could offer real, year-round jobs to local people
The
site for the proposed Horkesley Park is currently occupied by four
acres of greenhouses. Bunting and Sons claim there is a requirement
for redevelopment because these greenhouses are redundant. SVAG asks,
is this really so?
Is this a case of a rural company struggling against the problems of modern agriculture
and needing to diversify?
Or is it of one that is cash-rich and simply seeking a greater profit,
even if this comes at the expense of the local community and the landscape?
History
of the Site
The greenhouses at London Road, Great Horkesley, were
erected in their current form by Bunting and Sons during the 1960s
and 1970s, constructed
in steel and glass to meet the high specifications necessary for intensive
horticulture and tomato-growing, and for their pioneering work in biological
control of tomato pests. The Biological Control sector was highly successful,
receiving the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in 1991, and
was sold to Swiss
multinational Ciba-Geigy the following year. Tomato growing continued
at the site until the end of 2000 when Buntings ceased production,
stating as their prime reasons the problems of competition from cheap
foreign
imports and high heating costs. At that point the greenhouses were
still in good condition, although so far as we are aware they have
not been
maintained since.
When the greenhouses were first built, we believe that planning permission
was granted specifically for horticultural purposes. We contend that
this designation should stand and that there should be no change of use,
in the belief that the site has always been and is still viable in its
current form.
ADAS
Study
In 2001
SVAG commissioned ADAS to produce a report on the viability of
the site. ADAS are nationally
recognised independent environmental specialists, variously engaged
by government agencies and by private companies for
their expertise in the rural development and agricultural sectors.This
has been updated (November 2006). ADAS conclude that
there has never been a requirement to view the site as agriculturally ‘redundant’ and
that the specialist growing of tomatoes would, under existing conditions,
yield ‘reasonable to good’ margins.
The study includes the following key points:
• Figures
show site remains agriculturally viable
• Some new nurseries have been built in the UK
• Any decline in UK production seems to have stabilised
• 2003 and 2005 were good price years
• Demand rising for health-giving content of tomatoes such as lycopene
and anti-oxidants
• Promotion by growers is stimulating interest in the crop
• Major retailers anxious to source supply from UK where possible as being
in their best interests
• Environmentally friendly home grown crops of known origin in high demand
The
Changing Market
It is true that in
2000 some forecasts were pessimistic for greenhouse growing in the
UK. It was
a time when British supermarket shelves were
flooded with cheap fruit and vegetables imported from warmer climates.
Since that time however the market for high quality produce has moved
in other directions. There is exceptionally fast growing demand for locally
sourced and organically produced food, for which consumers will pay a
clear premium: a Mintel study (published October 2006) shows a surge
of 62% in ‘ethical food spending’ over the past four years.
The Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s, Mr Justin King, has recently
said that there is a ‘sea-change’ under way in British shopping
and eating habits.
There is further evidence of this in the fact that the East of England
Development Agency is currently developing a new action plan for the
agri-food sector. Particular emphasis is placed on the demand for production
of food within 100 miles of London. This bears out the findings of our
ADAS report and in effect gives government endorsement to the importance
of the agri-food sector in the region and the opportunities that must
exist for businesses with the infastructure that Buntings already have
available.
With more than a
century’s experience in horticulture and a leading
knowledge of biological control, Buntings should be ideally placed to
take advantage of these developments. A renewal of food production at
the greenhouses would seem a natural extension of their activities at
the associated enterprises of Carter’s Vineyards and the Anchor
Inn Heritage Farm, where much publicity has recently been given to experiments
with organic vegetable-growing and local supply. The greenhouses present
them with the opportunity to put the admirable intentions they have so
often stated into action on a really meaningful scale.
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