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.