New Agricultural Storage Barn - Haywards Heath

The Brief

A local farmer in the Haywards Heath area needed a new general-purpose agricultural storage barn. The building needed to be large enough to store machinery and feed, with good vehicle access.

What We Did

We handled the full project from start to finish:

• Site survey and initial consultation
• Groundworks and concrete footings
• Steel frame supply and erection
• Cement fibre roof with castle timber boarding
• Guttering and downpipes

The building was made to the exact requirements of the client.

The Result

The finished building gives the client plenty of covered storage space that's accessible all year round. The concrete floor means it stays dry and clean, with good vehicle access to get machinery in and out.

Why a Steel Frame Works for Agricultural Storage

For a general-purpose storage barn like this one, a steel portal frame is hard to beat. The frame carries the load on its own, so you get a wide, clear span with no internal posts getting in the way of machinery, trailers or stacked feed. Steel goes up quickly, needs very little maintenance once it is clad, and is straightforward to extend later if the farm's needs change. If you are weighing up your options, our guide to steel frame versus timber frame buildings runs through the trade-offs in more detail.

Planning a Storage Barn of Your Own

A few things are worth thinking about before you start. Size is the obvious one: it usually pays to build slightly bigger than you need today, because the extra cost of a wider or taller frame at the build stage is small compared with extending later. Vehicle access matters too, so the door openings and the apron in front of them need to suit your largest machinery. A concrete floor with the right falls keeps the building dry and clean, and good guttering and drainage stop water pooling around the base.

Many agricultural buildings can be put up under permitted development rights rather than full planning permission, but it depends on your site and how the building will be used. Our guide on planning permission for agricultural buildings explains where you stand, and you can see the full range of what we build on our services page. Whatever you have in mind, Graham is happy to talk it through and advise on the best approach.

Project Details