Afresh newlookat Weston Park ahead of an exciting year

Weston Park –the stately home on theShropshire/ Staffordshireborder–goes into 2023 with a freshnew look afterundertakinga comprehensive brandre-positioning throughout 2022.

Thebusinesshas evolvedand changed dramatically in recent years with theestatenow delivering adiverse rangeofexperiences.

WorkingwithAlisonDuckworth from EponaMarketing, adestination marketingspecialist, theteamhas undertaken arootand branch exercise in fullyunderstanding the wide rangeof audiencesthatengagewiththe Weston Park product.

Expanded

Weston Park marketingmanager

Andrea Webster said:“Ourproduct portfoliohas expanded in recent years andpost-Covidwewanted totruly understand what Weston Park is, what is stands forand how ourcustomers feel abouttheir experienceswithus.

“From enjoying lunchinthe Granary to celebratingmilestone events in theHouse –and everything in between.

“Wedidn’tinitially plan to undertake afullre-brand.

“But, as theproject developed, it became increasingly clearthata new brandmarkwould help reinforceour

MATTHEWPANTER matthew.panter@mnamedia.co.uk

positioningasadestination in itsown right.

“Wefeelthatthe newbrand mark will cement ourposition as an independentcharity with everypenny we make goingtowards preservingand maintainingthe estate forfuturegenerations to cherishand enjoy –justas we do today.

“Our newbrand showcases Weston Park as adistinctive,inclusive and welcomingdestination andhighlights ourextraordinary heritagecombined with aversatility to experience Weston Park –YourWay.”

Thenew brandmarkhas been rolled outacrossall digitalplatforms andwillcontinuein thenew year with thelaunchofthe newwebsite

Chiefexecutive ColinSweeney added:“We have hadasuccessful2022.

OurHouse events business hasbeen particularly strong seeing agreat post-Covid recoveryunder way.

“All otherareas of thebusinessare tradingwellabove 2019 levels andwe were delightedtowelcome newPark events to ourportfolio includingCamp Bestival Shropshire.

“I am confidentthatthe newbrandingwillmakeWestonParkmorewidely accessible to everyone,however they wish to enjoy theestate.”

Formoreinformation about everything that Weston Park hasto offervisit weston-park.com/

Thecompanywasfoundedin1845underthenameofHall, Wateridge and Owen. Having traded successfully forover 160 years, the present companytrades as ‘Halls’ and still offersthetraditionalandprofessionalserviceourreputation hasbeenbuilton.

We have alsoembraced the best modern technology has to offer,allowing us to provide afast,efficient service while retainingourhighlyprizedpersonaltouch.

Halls’ various departments arebased in 9regional offices in Bishops Castle, Ellesmere, Kidderminster,Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Whitchurch, ShrewsburyLivestock Centreand our ShrewsburyHead Office and Auction Sales Rooms.

Our highly experienced staff can adviseyou on awide varietyofissues related to the sale and purchaseof yourassets,sopleasedon’thesitatetogetintouch.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT –unlockingpotential from your property

‘Duetoanunprecedenteddemandforplanningservices,Halls is expanding its already successful Planning Department

Having recently appointed Paul Watson as Senior Planning Consultant,the excellent results being achievedbythe department throughout the area is necessitating further expansionofthe‘PlanningTeam’.Hallshasbeensuccessful inawidevarietyofplanningapplicationswithsomenotable examplesdetailedbelow.

Business Parks&Enterprise Zones

Halls Planning and Development was engaged by a developertoattainplanningpermissionfortheconstruction of acommercial building measuring 7,000 sqmcomprising 5x commercial units of B8 and Class EusesinaShropshire town,withtheaimofbringinggreateremploymentandlocal economicbenefitstothearea.

The challenges included the sitebeing is surrounded by a designated Conservation Area as well as severalGrade II ListedBuildings,possiblywithinanareaoflandcontamination, and whereparking provision maybeconstrained given existingusesonthesite,allofwhichwasconsideredduring thedesignphasepriortosubmissionoftheapplication.

The outcome was planning approval, though importantly, due to the work prior to submission and during the life of the application, the outcome was aso-called “shovelready”permission. This meant the landowner could get the permissionandstartworksstraightaway,withoutanyfurther time or cost with anyfurther applications to the Council to discharge “pre-commencement” planning conditions (as wouldbetypicalonlargerscaledevelopments).

Wedding Venues &Licensed Premises

Halls was engaged to supportinestablishing awedding venue by an experienced wedding planner.The applicants worked foramainstream hotelchain, and having gained plentyofexperience plus keen to provide employment opportunities in the same wayshe was when she started, decided to begin her entrepreneurial journey, supported by Halls. The chosen building was alarge residential dwellinghousewhich required afull planning application for achange of useovertoa Wedding Venue (sui generis use class).

Followingappraisalofthebenefitstoincludetheemployment opportunities,andsupportforthelocalsupplychaininterms of caterers,musicians and hotels/local accommodation for weddingpatronstostay,therewerealsochallenges.

The challenges included the design alterations and scope of worksfor the conversion and safeoperation of the building as aweddingvenue,plus considerations including the highways access, parking and frequencyof trafficmovements, afull independent noiseassessment with associated mitigations designed intothe proposals ensuring the operation is appropriatefor its surroundings, and supporting the Council with the information to makea fullyinformeddecision.

Following local opposition to the proposals, which were addressed in further submissions of information, the outcome was planning approval at Planning Committee subject to planning conditions regarding noise, biodiversity andlandscaping,plushighways.

Halls Planning and Development was engaged by afarm owner to supportthe diversification of the main agricultural business, and createsomethingdifferent which would be unique and attractiveto thearea, whilst alsosupporting employment and the local economy. Following the design considerations with the applicants, Hobbit homes was reached as the preferred option, and was one of the firstin theUK

Ideally located within the PowysCountryside,therewere challenges including the design and layouts of thehobbit homeswithinthesitetopography,biodiversityconsiderations and assessments, highways analysis, and providing the drainagedetailsandinformationwhichensuresthepreferred drainage solution is notcapable of an effect upon the River WyeSpecialAreaofConservation.

Theoutcomewasplanningapprovalfor7xhobbithomesat thesite,deliveringsignificantvalueforthelandowneraswell as the wider communityattracting tourism and associated economicbenefitstolocalbusinessesinruralPowys.

We have acomprehensiveknowledge of ourmarkets developed overmanyyearsoperating in this sector.Our service is forwardthinking,personal and professional, designedtoachievethebestresultsforourclientswhatever theirrequirements.

Although we operate nationwide,weretain aparticular emphasis on the Midlands and canadviseoncommercial propertysales,lettings,valuationsandmanagement

We also adviseonplanning,development and investment matters, acquisitions, dilapidations and asset management issues.

FormerGreenhousCarShowroom,OldPottsWay, Shrewsbury,Shropshire,SY37ET

Prominently located former carshowroom suitable for avarietyofcommercial and roadside uses (subject to statutoryconsents)

Rare opportunity to let a prominently situated high quality former carshowroom fronting ontoone of themain arterial roadsintoShrewsburyTownCentre

Availableasawholeorinpart

TotalGrossInternalFloorAreaofapproximately33,420ftsq (3,109msq)inclusiveofallthemezzanineareas

Sitefrontageofapproximately75metresontoOldPottsWay and aTotal SiteAreaofthe whole siteofapproximately 1.2 hectares(3acres)

Suitableforavarietyofroadside/leisureandretailshowroom uses(subjecttothereceiptofstatutoryconsents)

Formoredetails,pleasecontactHallsCommercial departmenton01743450700

Rural Professional Services

Halls Rural Professional team has been trusted to provide independentandexpertadviceonallmattersrelatingtothe agricultural industrysince 1845. Our client baseincludes privateindividuals, limited companies, public bodies, institutionsandcharities.

2023 -ANew Year anda NewEra for Agricultural Support Schemes

We arenow fullywithin the “Agricultural Transition Period”. By the end of 2023, all Basic Payment Scheme payments will have reduced by at least 35%, with the money(over £700m) being redirected to deliver other schemes that focus on sustainable farming practices and improving the environment,productivity,efficiencyandanimalwelfare.

2023 will alsobethe final year of BPS entitlements, with all paymentsbeingde-linkedfromlandfrom2024onwards.

Our Rural Professionals canhelp youplough through this timeofchangeanduncertaintyandsupportyouinnavigating your waythrough the existing and newfarming support schemes that areavailable,whether as one-off grants for projectsorlonger-termstewardshipschemes.

DEFRAhasrecentlyandquiterightlyannouncedanincrease inpaymentratesforbothannualrevenueoptionsandcapital itemswithinCountrysideStewardshipwhichwearesurewill maketheschememoreappealing

The Sustainable Farming Incentive(SFI)isalsoavailable to help deliver on-farm environmental benefits and we will see moregrantsandschemesemergeastheyearmoveson. GetintouchwiththeHallsRuralProfessionalteamfor moreinformationandsupporton01743450700