Cumbria Rural Small Building Grants Case Study: Peter Toaig Furniture

Background to business and property

Peter Toaig has run a successful furniture-making business from a rented workshop base in Stirling since 1998. He and his partner decided to move south into Cumbria last year as a result of her job.

They wanted to buy a property with potential for investment and development, not only as a workshop for Peter’s own work, but also with space for him to run specialist woodworking courses on site.

They moved into Butterwick Crag Farm, about 6 miles from Penrith, in October 2007 and Peter then began the process of converting the adjoining barn into business premises. The barn had fallen into disrepair and needed a new roof and weatherproofing as well as significant work to create a level floor.

Contact with CREA

At an early stage (September 2007), Peter met with CREA Planning Adviser, Len Cockcroft, before he and his partner had even moved into the farmhouse. Len’s advice under the Rural Planning Facilitation Service (see link) supported Peter’s planning application

He also applied for a percentage of total funding through the Cumbria Rural Small Building Grant Scheme, specifically to enable him to produce the two levels that would enable both his own workshop space and the room for courses to be created within the one building.

Impact of the RSB Grant and broader benefits

The objectives of Peter’s plans were:

• To create work space and job opportunities
• To develop a small business
• To re-use a redundant building.

“The Grant has covered 19% of the build cost. We have replaced the roof while preserving existing timbers and we have created two floors of space in the barn, each with separate ground-level access. In the longer term, I plan to create a wooden staircase between the two levels but this is not part of the Grant-funded work so I can complete that in my own time.”
Peter Toaig

The roofing work has gone well with Peter and his builder, Nigel Strong of Pooley Bridge , able to use most of the existing timbers and to recycle the traditional slates. Other timber has been sourced locally including oak for the new staircase that will eventually connect the two floors.

The main problem with the project has been the levelling of the lower floor as Butterwick Crag lived up to its name and the excavations hit bedrock before completion.

“The lower floor has taken longer than expected and increased expenditure too so I have been very grateful for the Grant as it has enabled us to persevere and have the building ready for first courses to run as planned.”
Peter Toaig

Upon completion, Peter’s project will have created 167 m2 of workspace and also the equivalent of 0.75 of a new full time job.

This business growth should also have a positive impact on the local economy, particularly accommodation providers, as Peter plans to run the workshops outside of peak holiday seasons and to encourage participants to use local B&B or hotel facilities.

Next steps

Peter and his builder, Nigel Strong, are now working to complete key aspects of the work before the end of June and Peter hopes to host his first workshops in September 2008. The staircase between the two levels will be a labour of love over the coming months and Peter will be designing and making this himself with locally-sourced oak