There are a number of different farm buildings, all designed with different purposes in mind and to suit different types of farms. For example a cattle farm will need a cattle court, to house the animals through the winter, they also may need a straw shed to store the animals feed. However, an arable farm could need a General Purpose Building to house their machinery and a Grain Store, to house their crop during harvest.

At Thorburns we can make any style of farm building you desire, take a look through our website to find examples of our previous work, and if there is a specific building you are after that you can’t find on the website, then get in touch, as we most likely can make it more you!

Farm Building is the generic name given to any building on a farm, this can often sometimes be referred to as a farm shed, agricultural building or agricultural shed.

Depending on the purpose of the building, it will be given a different name, for example if the purpose is to house cattle, then it will be called a cattle court or if it is to store crop after harvest then it will be called a Grain Store. You can find the different types of farm buildings we offer at the top of the page.

There are a number of different factors that will affect the price of a farm building, the first being the type of farm building you have chosen. So a Grain Store will be considerably more expensive than a Straw Shed, due to the size difference and the infrastructure included. A Straw Shed is a pretty simple design featuring posts and a roof, whereas a Grain Store is much more technical.

Another factor that will impact the price is the features you choose to kit out your shed, doors, insulation and internals will all impact the cost. However, putting consideration into the design aspects will ensure your building is fit for purpose and will last longer, giving you more for your money.

An agricultural building it term used to refer to any building which can be found on agricultural property, with the exception of domestic buildings, e.g. those that are being lived in. Therefore, any non-domestic building on fam land, regardless of it’s use, can be considered an agricultural building.

The building a farm needs really depends on the type of farm it is and what kind of size they have available for a building. For example, an arable farm will need a secure Grain store to house their crop during harvest. The size of building required will depend on the capacity of the farm, and the amount of crop they are estimated to produce each year. So the building requirements are totally unique to each farmer.

If you are looking for advice, on which building and what size of building you should be investing in, then get in touch and our experienced team can offer their advice.

Steel framed buildings have a vast lifespan, with most lasting for decades and decades, and a few people even report them lasting for 100 years. The exact lifespan will really depend on the type of building, and also on the location, a building on the coast will not last as long as an in-land building due to being so exposed to the elements. However, what is for certain, a steel framed building is a fantastic investment due to their longevity.

Steel is one of, if not, the most efficient material to build with, meaning there are a number of benefits of a steel framed building:

1. Fast installation and erection

2. Steel cladding is maintenance free

3. Longevity

4. Larger structure without intermittent support

5. Stronger and more durable

6. With our CNC machine we have the ability to offer bespoke steel manufacturing, and in turn bespoke buildings

7. High quality

8. Steel is the only viable option when it comes to Farm Buildings

9. Weather, fire and fungal resistant

There are two types of planning permission you could require when building on a farm, there is full planning and prior notification, and the the type you need will depend on a few different criteria. The main one being the floor space, anything under 1000m² won’t require full planning. However, there are sub-categories to this, for example if you have had full planning for a building in the last two years, then you will require full planning again.

Regardless, you will need prior notification for every building erected and the drawings required for prior notification are the same as if you were applying for full planning. The only difference is with prior notification it is a set rate and you will hear back in 28 days, whereas full planning is more expensive and can take anywhere up to a few months to receive an answer.

We know this all can sound very complicated, but not to worry as we have an in-house planning department who can handle the whole process for you. Whether it’s a simple prior notification application or you require full planning approval we will manage this for you, giving you one less thing to worry about.

The type of material you are using for your build will not determine the type of planning permission you need, it really depends on the purpose of the building. For example a farming or forestry building could get away with only prior notification so long as it is under 1000m² and follows all the other criteria. Whereas an Industrial Unit will require planning permission regardless of it’s size, due to it’s intended use. So in short, you will need to complete a planning application for a steel framed building, but your intended purpose will determine which type of application you will require: prior notification or full planning approval.

Yes, there are building standards for every type of building, they are categorised into domestic and non-domestic, so all our buildings will fall into the non-domestic category. Building standards include factors such as drainage, fire exits, lights, entrance points and these standards differentiate between Scotland, England and Wales. But we will design your building to ensure it complies to the required building standards.

If your building is under 288m² then you don’t need a building warrant. However, anything over this, it is a legal requirement to have a building warrant. So, 9 times out of 10 you will need a building warrant. We have an internal building warrants department who can fill out all the paperwork on your behalf, giving you one less thing to stress about.

We can manage the whole planning approval and building warrant application process on your behalf, giving you one less thing to worry about with your new building. Our internal planning department have a wealth of experience completing successful planning applications, and know exactly which building standard are required for our portfolio of buildings. If you would like more information regarding this service, then get in touch.