Walk & Talk: Adapting agricultural buildings for 21st century use at Snaigow Estates

Following acquisition of the landholding and existing children’s playpark business in 2015, the Cadogan family committed to redevelop the site to incorporate it more effectively into the wider estate vision, which seeks to build resilience and enhance community benefit. The existing business had been in operation since 2005 but the small former dairy building was a hugely limiting factor due to the lack of indoor facilities it could support in inclement weather. The aim was to adapt the building to create an all-weather, all-season, sustainable operation which could function all year round extending the scope of the business and bringing permanent local jobs. The outcome would be that the redeveloped site would meet the community’s growing needs with local development playing a key role in the decisions undertaken within the project.  

Managed by Galbraith, who assigned Mill Architects to bring their experience in farm diversification and agri-tourism development to the design of the site, the new barn provides extensive internal play facilities for children of all ages and abilities, while energy efficiency plays a key part in future proofing the building and the business itself and includes the integration of a solar array which significantly reduces running costs.  

This event invites members to learn from the estate about their motivation, their vision and the challenges presented in creating and running this business along with a presentation from Mill Architects on the design and construction. Active Kids at Stanley is an example of the gold standard in adaptation of existing estate buildings and a worthy winner of a Rural Property Helping It Happen award.  

Members are invited to tour the facility and take inspiration for their own businesses from this adaptation.