
A new-style of finance has helped secure a Midland farming family’s future.
A Northamptonshire farmer says he has future-proofed his business by using green finance to fund a key diversification project.
Third-generation farmer Harry Brown manages 600ha (1500 acres) of predominantly arable land at Potcote Farm, near Towcester. The rotation includes wheat, barley, and oilseed rape, with a 200-head suckler herd.
Faced with the constant challenges of volatile markets and increasing environmental pressures, he was spurred on to find regular income which was more resilient to market fluctuations than agricultural commodities.
“Farming is a way of life, but it’s also a business, a unique business at that,” says Mr Brown.
“When you plant a crop, you don’t know what you’ll get for it when you harvest. We knew we needed to find ways to make the farm more financially resilient, while also addressing our environmental impact.”
Beyond farming
Harry began diversifying Potcote Farm over a decade ago, supplementing income from residential properties on his land by investing in holiday lets. The accommodation is popular among visitors drawn by the farm’s proximity to Silverstone.
“We’re lucky in being situated near the racetrack. We’ve got six self-contained holiday lets; they’re very popular on race weekends, providing guaranteed income throughout the year. And we pick up quite a lot of trade from businesspeople in the week.”
Recognising the potential of unused farm buildings, Mr Brown converted derelict barns into offices. “The barns weren’t big enough for commercial purposes. I used to run a grain store business, but they weren’t really suitable for that,” he recalls.
“We were wary of converting them into storage units, which often becomes a race to the bottom in terms of pricing and quality, so we opted for high-grade office suites, which have worked out well.”
Today, Grovelands Business Park is a thriving hub hosting a range of tenants, from a taxation firm, a bridal company, telemetric insurance provider, and a marketing agency. This diversity has been a strength, contributing to the farm’s financial stability.
“The residential and commercial lets have been game-changers. With these types of investments, you know your return before you begin. They provide consistent income – especially helpful when farm revenues fluctuate due to market or weather conditions.
“It’s taken the pressure off and given me more freedom on the farming side of the business.”
A common thread in Potcote Farm’s journey was the decision to invest in renewable energy. With the holiday lets already fitted with heat pumps, Harry saw the dual benefit of reducing the farm’s carbon footprint and cutting energy costs.
Initially, installing 250kW of roof-mounted solar panels at Grovelands provided about 25% of the site’s energy needs on cloudy days. Mr Brown self-funded a 400kW solar array using personal savings, further reducing the business park’s reliance on the grid.
“Right now, we’re about 90% sufficient in electricity. We draw a little off the grid at night, but we’re in the process of installing batteries to stop that. It’s not really a financial decision—it’s about making the park 100% renewable, which is the goal,” he explains.
The success of this venture led Mr Brown to consider expanding his solar capacity. However, financing such a significant project required careful planning and resourcefulness, stacking a mixture of funding sources.
Finance options
Mr Brown approached the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AMC), part of Lloyds Banking Group, becoming the first farmer to secure a £1 million loan through their Clean Growth Financing Initiative (CGFI).
This loan, also available across Lloyds and Bank of Scotland, offers a zero per cent set-up fee for term lending on sustainable farming investments, aiming to support farm businesses in removing financial barriers in the transition to environmental practices.
This funding is now being used to install a further 1,200kW of solar capacity, which will make Grovelands Business Park fully energy self-sufficient.
“The CGFI loan was instrumental,” says Mr Brown. “Having no set up fee was a massive benefit; it allowed us to scale up our renewable energy project without overstretching our finances.”
Attracting tenants
With remote working trends making office tenancies harder to fill, Harry acknowledges it hasn’t all been plain sailing. He is fortunate to be at full capacity and the investment in renewable energy has had a ripple effect on the success of Grovelands Business Park. Businesses are increasingly seeking premises with strong sustainability credentials, says Mr Brown. “Green energy is a selling point for tenants. Looking at carbon offsets is becoming more important for all types of businesses – not just agriculture.
“Providing offices powered by renewable energy, including our 40 EV charging points, gives us a competitive advantage,” says Mr Brown, who says his commitment to sustainability extends beyond renewable energy.
He is in Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to support nature-friendly practices like wildflower mixes, cover crops, and grass leys. “We’ve set aside little blocks of fields for wild bird mixes and cover crops.”
With the additional solar investments in place, Harry’s next step on the farm is to install an automated livestock feeder, powered by the additional solar capacity.
“Our feeder wagon is nearing the end of its life, and automating cattle feeding feels like the natural progression,” he explains. “The automation will address labour shortages, a common challenge in farming, while aligning with our sustainability goals.”
This investment brings the diversification ventures back full circle to the farm: “Our farm wouldn’t be the same without the livestock. We want to look after the environment drawing on our strengths across farming the land and our stock. Subsidies like these make it financially viable to continue these efforts.”
Advice for fellow farmers
When approaching funding for large projects, Mr Brown advises farmers to explore all available options, plan carefully, and seek advice.
“Don’t rely on a single source of funding—look into government grants, consider what you can invest personally, and explore specialised financing options like the CGFI loan. Stacking these together makes ambitious projects feasible,” he advises.
Harry’s experience serves as an example of the evolving role of financial institutions in supporting the transition to sustainable agricultural practices. Offering sustainability-backed lending, through schemes such as CGFI, enables farmers to confidently invest in green practices, infrastructure and technologies that might otherwise be financially out of reach.
Looking ahead
With the continued expansion of renewable energy projects and diversified income streams, Potcote Farm is well-positioned for the future. Ambitions for the farm continue.
Planning permission is underway for additional offices, a café, and a gym at the business park. Mr Brown says he remains committed to both the land and the legacy of farming in his family.
“It’s about ensuring the farm is viable for the next generation. Whether it’s expanding land, investing in new technology or infrastructure, you have to keep improving. Standing still isn’t an option—if you’re standing still, you’re going backwards.”
Harry’s top tips for diversification
Stay adaptable: Adaptability to your current situation is key to thriving in both farming and business
Do your research: Before investing, visit farms or businesses already diversifying to understand how and where your venture might fit into the current offering
Ensure compatibility: Choose ventures that align with your lifestyle, farming activities, and long-term goals
Face challenges head-on: If things aren’t working, assess the market, pricing structure, or strategy – seek advice and consult your lender for options
Embrace sustainability: Seek out grants and use schemes like SFI to improve soil health and offset the previous lost subsidies. Sustainable practices generally lead to cost reductions over time – solar is a good example.
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