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Appendix G – Rural Enterprise Report

Albury Neighbourhood Plan: Rural Enterprise

Albury has a total of 191 business within the parish excluding those who are self-employed. These can be categorised into the following hospitality (12), tourism (9), retail (56), housing (9), equestrian (5), health (2), building maintenance (21), rural management (11) and consultancy (66). These are spread throughout the parish although there are a few ‘hubs’ where more than one business is located. Locations include:

These are identified in the MAP D.

Parish Needs Questionnaire 2012 Findings:

These findings are now 8 years old and do not necessarily reflect the parishes needs both prior to and following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Parish offers a more rural premises for business owners. The Parish Needs Survey carried out in 2012 had a total of 217 respondents out of a total of 431.

The survey highlighted 30% of the households which responded had someone who either worked in the Parish or worked from home.

At the time 41 respondents stated they worked in a business within the parish and 65 respondents stated they worked from home. The number of people working from home now has probably increased due to the pandemic due to restrictions on travel. The number of businesses which will continue to encourage working from home is yet to be seen.

The survey identified 12 respondents out of the 217 stated they wanted to set up a business within the Parish.

Broadband and improved mobile reception were the two highest scoring improvements respondents wanted to see improved. 84 out of the 217 respondents wanted improved high-speed internet access and 71 out of 217 wanted improved mobile reception.

Although not currently provided in the village 8 out of the 217 respondents from the survey stated they wanted the use of rent by the hour office space facilities. This demand could potentially increase with more people working from home and wanting space to hold either meetings or have another working space. Although these spaces are offered within the centre of Guildford there will still be the demand for rural locations.

Out of those who responded a total of 155 said they support business within the Parish.

Key:

1 – Albury Village (includes village shop, Post Office, The Drummond Pub, Albury Lodge, Albury Village Hall and Western Yard)

2 – Birmingham Farm

3 – Albury Park

4 – Western Farm

5 – Water Lane Farm

6 – Newlands Corner

7 – Sherbourne Farm

8 – Home Farm

9 – William IV Pub

MAP D – Location of business ‘hubs’

Industry Expert Respondents

A series of seven questions were put to a local commercial agent and an estate manager with the responses coming from Alex Bellion of Owen Shipp and Michael Baxter of Albury Estate. The responses received from Owen Shipp are generic as they cover a larger area then the parish. The Parish is in a rural location therefore the questions were aimed at establishing what the demands are.

Question 1 - Is there a strong demand for rural premises?

Question 2 – What type of premises are being sought after?

Question 3 – What size premises is in demand?

Question 4 – Due to the current circumstances has demand increased?

Question 5 – Are freehold or leasehold properties preferred?

Question 6 – What requirements are there?

Question 7 – Why are people choosing rural?

Business Questionnaire

In total 17 businesses within the parish responded to the questionnaire although a poor response it provided a good basis on what is required within the parish. Those that did respond gave in depth feedback. A list of the questions asked has been included in appendix 3.

Albury Park

The units located in Albury Park are just off the A248 on New Road and consists of office space for seven individual businesses.

Birmingham Farm

Is located off Blackheath Lane accessed from the village centre by Church Lane. There are three businesses located here, two antique restorers and a carpenter and joiner.

Sherbourne Farm

Sherbourne Farm is located off the A25 and has four business premises present which can be categorised under food and drink production and sales. They include the Silent Pool Distillery, Albury Organic Vineyard, Mandiras Kitchen and Norbury Blue Cheese Co.

Weston Farm

There are six units located in Weston Farm with direct access to the A248. These are a variety of businesses which require office space. In total five operate from this location and include an architect, mobile phone recycler, photographer, home entertainment & IT system and an IT company.

Weston Yard

Weston Yard is located off the A248 and has three office business premises. This includes the Albury Estate office, Land and Water and Albury Estate Fisheries.

Home Farm

Is located off the A25 and has seven varying businesses operating from here. The spaces include workshop, warehouse and office space. The following companies are located here Montfort International PLC, Core Group, Nexuss Ltd, Careprint, The Spokesman, Beacon Roofing, Hammond Decorators and K1M.

Albury Village Hall

Albury Village Hall is located off the A248 and has office space for three business as well as being used by the community and the Parish Council. The companies located here include The Opcyon Design Company Ltd, Detail Design and CJWG.

Water Lane Farm

There are varying units available on Water Lane from storage, workshops and office space. These are located of the A248. The businesses located here include an upholsterer, mechanic, car body repairs and a stove & chimney specialist.

Village Shop and Post Office

The village store and Post Office are both at the centre of the village on the A248. They are both retail premises.

Pubs (The William IV – Little London and The Drummond – Albury)

There are two pubs in the Parish, The Drummond which is located in Albury on the A248 and The William IV which is located in Little London. These both serve food and drink.

Newlands Corner

Newlands Corner is located on the A25 which has a café & restaurant (The Plucky Pheasant) and takeaway. Both establishments are popular with tourists, walkers and cyclists due to easy access to footpaths and bridleways. There is also a restaurant, Carol’s Trattoria, and a The Manor House Hotel.

Sandpit

The Sandpit has five businesses with premises here used mainly as workshops and storage. These are more industrial businesses and include LC Energy, Suez and GASP Motor Project Workshop.

Other

The businesses mentioned so far are those located in a ‘hub’ however, there are numerous others not specifically mentioned located within the Parish. These include various business services, workshops, accommodation.

Businesses in The Parish

Industry Expert Responses

Business Questions

  1. Does current internet and cellular delivery meet your needs? If not, what would be helpful and where?

  2. Do you have enough office/business space and facilities? Would you prefer larger or different provision, and if so where in the parish?

  3. Would you value an internet café?

  4. Would you like to rent local desk space in an office building, that had strong internet and phone connection? If yes where?

  5. Are there enough local facilities to meet the needs of your employees e.g. coffee shop, bakery, other? Are there any others that would be beneficial?

  6. Would you welcome more local retail outlets and if so what and where?

  7. Are the local bus and train services adequate to meet your business needs?

  8. Do your customers/employees need local accommodation and if so what type?

  9. Does local traffic congestion provide problems for your business.  If so when and where? 

  10. Do you experience delivery problems, if so when and where?

  11. Does local traffic speed provide a problem to your business and if so where?  

  12. Would you welcome traffic calming measures and if so what and where?

  13. Do you have enough parking facilities for your customers and employees?  If not, what would be helpful and where?  You do not need to suggest specific locations unless you wish to e.g. village or other area will suffice.

  14. If your business is retail or hospitality and benefits from customers, would you welcome more tourists/passing trade or local residents, or both?

  15. Would you welcome a Farmers market?  If yes which location would work best for you? You do not need to suggest specific locations unless you wish to e.g. Silent Pool or other area will suffice.

  16. Would you support preserving the parish as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty?

  17. Would you welcome better signage of “Tourist Trails” with suggested walks past your business?

  18. Are there any sites which you believe might lend themselves to further rural enterprise?  If so where? You do not need to suggest specific locations unless you wish to e.g. former landfill site or other area will suffice.

  19. Are there any areas of the parish where the development of new affordable housing would benefit your business? If so where? You do not need to suggest specific locations unless you wish to e.g. village will suffice.

  20. Silent Pool already has a vineyard, gin distillery and several quality food businesses and has drawn attention to what can be achieved. Would you support further development of this area as a local craft/food area?  In your view what are the limitations of the current site?

  21. Would you support the development of a “Tourist Triangle” with walking trails linking Albury village, Newlands Corner, Silent Pool, proposed viewing platform at former landfill site, Saxon/Apostolic churches and the Tillingbourne stream linking existing and integrating new facilities?  Obvious limitations and implications would need to be evaluated and addressed, such as car parking.

  22. If your business is recreational e.g. football, cricket, fishing does it have sufficient facilities e.g. pitches, parking? If not, what would be helpful?

  23. Would you rent a room locally for meetings? 

  24. Would you/your employees value a local gym or sports facilities that do not already exist?  If yes what?

  25. Is there anything that would help your business develop that is not already listed above?