Business Plan for the aged

[Mick Stockbridge]

I've had an idea in my head for a while now and it goes like this.

 

I know of a piece of land near me for sale, its about 15 acres and grade one agricultural. Obviously I'd check with the council as to change of use etc.

 

Then I buy it and turn it into a woodyard for bonafide tradesmen to tip chip and wood for a fee. I trundle around in a tractor tidying up or split wood to sell on. I would carry on my present business for a while until hopefully one day I could get away from the usual crud that goes with the job. Truth is I aint getting no younger and I'm long overdue an easier life.

 

I know there's enough arbs around my area plus if it were well advertised then arbs from other area's could tip when working nearby.

 

So my question is am I looking at this idea through rose tinted glasses or do you think it could work?

 

Mick.

[Mr Ed]

Mick, sounds good, but for the obvious planning issues. I would be more inclined to plant up a woodland, mostly on a fast growing coppice basis. Once thats giving cover, what you do in your woodland is entirely up to you, and any authority would have a hard time proving that logs and chip in there are not part of your woodland business. The other benifit of having a woodland is that they are tax nuetral, meaning any revenue generated from it is untaxable (i.e. Logs, woodchip, benches, mushrooms etc.)

 

Mainly for me, its the idea that in a woodland, what you do in there is your business, and away from prying eyes.

[Peter]

Mainly for me, its the idea that in a woodland, what you do in there is your business, and away from prying eyes.

 

Yes, I hear there is good money to be had in running private beastiality events for rich Londoners.

[Mr Ed]

Yes, I hear there is good money to be had in running private beastiality events for rich Londoners.

 

Well, Each to their own I suppose. I was thinking more along the line of running firewood business and a timber station, With the posibility of building a 'Ben Law' style house.

Is there much money in your bestiality events then?

[geoff]

Check it out with local planning dep. ,access can be an issue, more traffic etc,get insurance quote(fire 3rd party etc.), if all is well and the price is reasonable why not! I have 3 acres that I use for my own arisings and it saves me money and time.

[skyhuck]

As fire wood prices increase, I think you will find you end up only getting crap bumped.

 

The woodland is the way, as Ed says, you could make charcoal etc, and may even in time get permission to build a house under an agricultural license (or what ever they are called) if you can show you NEED to be there.

[Mick Stockbridge]

I'd have to have it all above board Ed, which would'nt be that difficult round here. Planning would be a doddle I reckon considering the amount of travellers that have bought land and settled around here.

 

Hmmmm, good point about the house! First thing I'd do is get a postcode.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I've got the same idea Mick.

 

But I watched a program not so long ago where permission was passed for a house to be built, on the condition that as soon as the business was finished the house had to come down ??

[Peter]

A Ben Law style house would be great, but it took him over ten years to get planning consent, and then only on the condition that if he ever left, the house couldnt be occupied by anyone else.

 

If your thinking of a different approach, and dispensing with the plannig, then your looking at ten years of living like a wanted criminal, with no services to your house, before it can be legitimised. I do know someone who has successfully done it, 20 years ago, nowadays with satellite mapping I think it would be even harder.

[Stephen Blair]

sweet idea mick, i would go for the woodland idea. if you are making a recycle centre or woodstation then there will be a lot of paperwork and money to spend, and you will end up with everyones crap and fly tipping everywhere. buy a wood and run arb events like richard did at the weekend. look at the contacts that you have now at the touch of a button