Newparks Farm is a Council run demonstration farm/animal sanctuary providing free of charge public access to view farming practices and a range of domestic animal species. Farm staff work with the Council’s Ranger Service and a range volunteers (of both school age and from a range of vulnerable backgrounds) to look after the farm and animals providing opportunities for skills development/ training and therapeutic purposes.
Newparks Farm extends to approximately 8ha and is primarily used as grazed pasture (Class 3.1 arable). There are various farm buildings centrally located within the farm steading:
- Farm workers’ bothy/ office
- Toilets
- Food store
- Ex stable blocks (housing animals)
- Storage Sheds
- Barn
- Bird enclosure
The Farm has public access along a network of defined paths but there is no public access through individual fields.
The Country Park receives approximately 100,000 vehicle trips per year. Car parking at 2 separate car parks is shared with the wider Country Park. One of those car parks is currently charged for (£1 per vehicle) A review of the wider car park charging policy with park is ongoing.
Facilities available within the wider 70ha Country Park include:
- Woodland and parkland
- An extensive path network including a section of the River Avon Heritage Trail connecting directly onto the John Muir Way
- A community allotment and orchard
- A café
- A play area and sculpture trail
- A visitor centre
- An outdoor education centre
- Small scale workshop units
Location
Newparks Farm is located within Muiravonside Country Park (Falkirk Council’s only Country Park) which itself sits alongside the River Avon at the south eastern corner of the Council area on the West Lothian boundary close to Linlithgow. The County Park is easily accessible from the M9 motorway approximately 10 minutes drive via the A801 and the B825.
Accommodation
SITE AREA: 8 Hectares (2.31 Acres)
FLOOR AREA: (Gross External)
- Farm workers’ bothy/ office – extends to 31.4 sq m
- Toilets – extend to 22.38 sqm
- Food store – extends to 20.62 sqm
- Ex stable blocks (housing animals) – extend to 46.72 sq m
- Storage Sheds – extends to 46.05 sq m
- Barn – extends to 100.04 sq m
- Bird enclosures
Terms
BACKGROUND
This soft marketing exercise for Newparks Farm is undertaken following consideration by the Council’s Executive in October 2022.
On 1st April 2022 management responsibility for Muiravonside Country Park and Newparks Farm was passed from Falkirk Community Trust to Falkirk Council. Recent investment in the Country Park includes:
- Path upgrading around Newparks Farm, Muiravonside Visitors Centre and play area to improve accessibility, also enabling the re-opening of the River Avon Heritage Trail through the park;
- Health and safety upgrading to park buildings (farm, visitor centre and café) - notably the upgrading of fire alarm systems;
- Pond creation, habitat enhancement and path maintenance work carried out by volunteers supervised by partner charities (The Conservation Volunteers, the Council’s Employment Training Unit and Froglife);
- Minor car park improvements;
- Entrance road resurfacing; and
- Tree safety works (ongoing programme).
Future planned investment in the Country Park includes:
- Reopening of the steadings café (out to tender for operation by a 3rd party);
- Upgrading of the main play area;
- Improvements to woodland car park;
- Relocation and replacement of the vehicle payment barrier.
RENTAL PROPOSAL
The Council is seeking expressions of interest from businesses, community organisations, charities, trusts and private individuals to run Newparks Farm as a going concern, taking on the ownership of, and responsibility
for, the animals sustaining the public amenity, volunteer opportunities, training/skills development and therapeutic services it currently offers and ideally expanding on these. The Council is not seeking interest in a working farm and an agricultural lease is not being considered. An appropriate sale agreement in suitable terms would also require to be agreed.
There is a small number of Council staff (1.38 FTE) employed as Stock Keepers in the day-to-day operations of the Farm and the care of the animals. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) will apply in the event of the transfer of the Farm as a going concern. Relevant TUPE information can be supplied on a confidential basis by contacting property@falkirk.gov.uk
Interested parties are invited to indicate:
- Their vision and objectives for the site;
- An outline business case for the operation of the Farm including what the sources of revenue might be. For example, with the provision of additional facilities (such as retail or recreational) or if additional charges for public access would be considered;
- Which parts of Newparks Farm are of interest;
- What lease term would be required;
- An indication of level of annual rent payable to the Council;
- Whether any additional visitor attractions would be provided or other investments in the Farm made;
- What assistance, if any, they might need from the Council relative to TUPE responsibilities;
- Their approach to the payment of the Real Living Wage and the Fair Work First agenda;
- An outline of what welfare arrangements would be put in place for the existing animal stock (including maintenance of all necessary paperwork - Scottish Rural Payments; Animal Plant Health Agency ; ScotEID; County Parish Holding), and what plans there might be for additional animal attractions thereafter.
The Council’s preference is for the continuation and expansion of the current operation of the Farm as a visitor attraction including existing volunteering and engagement activities with educational and 3rd sector clients.
Interested parties may, however, propose alternative operations that would be compatible with the wider use of the Country Park. Parties should provide sufficient detail as to how such alternatives would work, equivalent to that has been requested relative to the continuation of current operations at the Farm.
RATEABLE VALUE
Country Parks are currently non rateable (until 1st April 2023). The proposed rateable value is currently unknown.
FINANCES
The Farm’s operating accounts can be made available on request (or can be seen at appendix x)
PLANNING
Any proposals which require a change of use, would require prior approval of the landowner and to obtain any necessary statutory consents.
VIEWING
External viewing at any time during park opening hours. Internal viewings can be arranged by prior arrangement. Viewing prior to submitting an expression of interest are encouraged.
Whilst steps have been made to manage hazards on site, site visitors are expected to carry out their own risk assessment and take any necessary precautions. Site visitors are required to provide their own PPE including suitable head protection, robust and durable clothing and footwear suited to the conditions. Those entering land and buildings should only do so if they are adequately insured, particularly for personal injury.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Expressions of interest should include the information noted in the rental proposal section above and must be received prior to the closing date of: 11:00am, Friday 19th May 2023. Offers should be titled “Newparks Farm - Expression of Interest” submitted by email to property@falkirk.gov.uk
NEXT STEPS
Options will be taken back to members (Executive meeting on 9th May) on a confidential basis thereafter officers will progress negotiations/marketing based elected members’ direction on preferred options.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Interested Parties should note that under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, the Council may in certain circumstances require to provide copies of expressions of interest received to any FOI enquirer. This
may depend on for example, if a duty of confidence exists, the commercial sensitivity of the content, and the timing of any request.