Holsworthy Chamber of Trade

Holsworthy Cattle Market

Holsworthy Livestock Market has become the centre of attraction on the traditional Wednesday market day for over a century. Originally situated in the town square the relocation to what was then the edge of the town, happened in the early 1900. Since then the auction numbers of Cattle, Sheep, Cows, Calves and Pigs have continually grown as the market has attracted an increase in vendors and purchasers choosing Holsworthy as its place to trade.

Following several years of careful planning, consultation and partnership, a development brief for the new site is now in place and full planning application has been submitted to the local planning authority.

As you will understand, this is a very exciting project and one that will benefit the whole of the Devon and Cornwall farming and rural community as well as playing a major role in placing Holsworthy as a vital part of the South West Economy.

Visit Holsworthy

For information and history of Holsworthy.

Whats On Holsworthy

For information on whats going on in and around Holsworthy.

Holsworthy Memorial Hall

For information of whats going on at the hall and how to book.

Homes for Holsworthy

Homes for Holsworthy is a charity and a Community Land Trust, the Holsworthy Community Property Trust, set up by local people to buy, build and manage properties in Holsworthy.

Photo shows l to r: Peter Quincey (Joint Delivery Team),  Cllr Ken Carroll, Vanessa Saunders (TDC Special Projects Officer), and Cllr Barry Parsons, with Holsworthy District Councillors Pam Johns & Richard Brown

Holsworthy Agribusiness

Centre Designs

Holsworthy Agribusiness Centre

Agribusiness Centre brought to life in conceptual designs 

The new Holsworthy Agribusiness Centre development has come to life in designs commissioned by Torridge District Council. Local people are now able to see the proposed development in all its glory and appreciate the scale and importance of the development to the community.

Detailed designs are being worked up for the Agribusiness Centre, which incorporates a new Livestock Market, on the new site near the existing Holsworthy Dobles Lane Industrial Estate. These designs will form part of the detailed planning application which will be submitted in Spring 2011. 

It is anticipated that planning permission will be granted by the Autumn of 2011 which will allow for a start on the new Centre in the Spring of 2012. The Agribusiness Centre will provide modern accommodation required for a vibrant and dynamic livestock market as well as facilitating new, much needed commercial land providing new business opportunities.

District Councillors, Officers and Town and Parish councils are working together to deliver the development and are delighted that designs are now available. The design stage of the scheme is vital as it provides the community with the vision for the future and shows exactly what the proposal has to offer.  

Torridge District Council Member Champion for the project, Councillor Barry Parsons, said: “I didn’t get into politics to talk about change. I got into politics to see it happen. Critics and doubters in life all have one thing in common – they rarely get anything done! Torridge District Councillors have, however, showed courage and vision to fully support the agri-business project. This ‘regeneration’ of Holsworthy has the capacity, above all other projects in Devon to transform the fortunes of a market town, and, is an integral part of the vision of my predecessor, Cllr Des Shadrick – and, is something which I am determined to see through. The project has the potential to enhance greatly so many facets of community life not only in and around Holsworthy, but, far beyond.”

Ken Carroll, Chair of Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council, location for the new proposed centre, said: ‘Having attended my first meeting on behalf of the Parish I was impressed with the progress made to date and my Council is looking forward to working with the team over the next 18 months. I am personally optimistic of the success of the project and of the benefits to be gained for Holsworthy and its neighbours.’

The retention of a sustainable and vibrant livestock market in Holsworthy is one of the top 3 strategic projects within Northern Devon   At Torridge’s recent Community and Resources Committee, where commercially sensitive decisions were scrutinised and debated, there was unanimous support for the project and it is anticipated that enthusiasm and support for the development will continue into the new administration.

In 2009 TDC undertook a number of public consultations to determine community support for the relocation of the livestock market and the creation of a new agribusiness centre with associated commercial land.  Furthermore the consultation introduced the concept of funding the cost of the agribusiness centre by redeveloping the existing site.  Having determined overwhelming support for the project, TDC undertook detailed work to determine the cost of the agribusiness centre and values that could be achieved from the existing site to determine the type of development that would be needed on the current livestock market site.  The redevelopment proposals were presented again to the community who supported a new food store and housing and the work to progress this development is being done in conjunction with the new Agribusiness Centre proposals. It is intended that the existing Livestock Market will remain open until the new Livestock Market is built.

The current livestock market which is owned by the Council and operated by Kivells has been situated in its present site for over a hundred years  and requires significant investment to bring it close to the standards of a modern facility.  The current site has insufficient space to support business growth, additionally there is a real risk the market could close because of its condition, age, constrained town centre location and inadequate facilities.

Holsworthy is at the heart of an area with one of the highest concentrations of dairy cows in the country and the livestock market supports a great number of jobs and is vital in maintaining a sustainable rural based economy.  An independent Economic Impact Assessment commissioned by TDC in 2009 highlighted the strong influence of the livestock market on not only the Town but also attracts  farmers and businesses from a much wider area, not just from across the district of Torridge, but also Cornwall, North Devon, West Devon and Mid Devon.   The market is also attracts many another not just agricultural businesses into Holsworthy including  banks, solicitors, accountants, retail, catering, feed merchants and veterinary practices. 

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