Unlocking the hidden value of land: Jobs, infrastructure and services for rural communities
1st December 2025
For generations, farming has been the backbone of the UK’s rural economy. Yet, as pressures mount – from volatile markets and rising input costs to environmental obligations – farmers are increasingly exploring how their land can deliver more than food production alone. Joseph Skinner, development director at Tritax Big Box Developments offers essential advice on how to plan your next diversification project.
The team at Tritax Big Box Developments sees first-hand how strategic land development can provide farmers not just with additional income, but also with a way to bring lasting benefits to the wider community. Done well, development can deliver new jobs, improved infrastructure, and vital services that keep rural areas thriving for generations to come, the company said.
Unlocking the hidden value of land
When people think about land development, the first thought is often housing. However, farmland in the right location can also support industrial and logistics buildings, assets that are increasingly in demand.
Driven by the growth of e-commerce and the need for resilient supply chains, logistics facilities are essential to the companies we rely on – from retail to manufacturing to healthcare. For landowners, this demand represents an opportunity to unlock significant value while helping to accommodate the future needs of the UK economy.
Creating jobs close to home
Rural areas are often affected by outward migration, particularly of younger generations seeking careers in towns and cities. This trend can put pressure on farming families, weaken the skills base, and risks hollowing out communities.
Strategic land development can help reverse this pattern. Distribution centres and logistics parks typically bring hundreds, sometimes thousands, of jobs across warehousing, transport, and technology.
Biggleswade in Bedfordshire can be a good example. Farmer Simon Tunnard had worked his family’s land for over 100 years, but faced pressure as traditional markets became more challenging. Working with Tritax Big Box, Simon brought forward land for logistics development.
Within eight months, planning was secured and a pre-let agreed with Co-op for a major distribution centre. The project created 1,200 new jobs, breathing fresh life into the area and ensuring the land left a lasting legacy for the community.
Improving infrastructure
Farmers know better than most that rural infrastructure has not always kept pace with modern needs. Limited road capacity, patchy public transport, and slow broadband are common frustrations.
Well-planned development can bring tangible improvements: schemes are often required to contribute to new roads, upgraded utilities, and enhanced digital connectivity. Tritax Big Box also works with councils to extend bus routes and embed sustainability features within our new developments.
Supporting essential services
Another challenge faced by rural communities is the gradual erosion of local services and amenities. As populations age or decline, shops close, schools consolidate, and GP surgeries struggle.
Strategic land development can be a lifeline. By bringing new families, investment, and community facilities, farmers and their development partners can help keep schools open, ensure shops thrive, and support health services. Our approach is to select occupiers that deliver the greatest long-term benefit to the economy and the community.
Box out: Five factors farmers should consider
Before making any decision, here are five important factors for landowners to consider:
- Trusted advisers – solicitors, land agents, and accountants help safeguard your interests, often with fees covered by your development partner
- Understand planning – land with planning permission is far more valuable, but the process is complex and requires expertise
- Reputation matters – choose a developer with a proven track record with planners and communities
- Think legacy – development affects land, relationships, and family futures. Long-term, community-focused partners are vital
- Explore different purchase agreements – from land sales to option agreements, the right structure depends on landowners’ differing requirements.
Looking ahead
The rural economy is evolving. Farming will remain at the heart, but long-term sustainability may depend on embracing complementary income streams.
Strategic land development is one of the most powerful tools available, not only to secure resilience for farm businesses but also to breathe new life into the communities around them.
When approached thoughtfully, development is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about creating jobs for local communities, building infrastructure that connects the countryside, and sustaining services that every rural family relies on. For farmers, it represents an opportunity to leave a legacy that balances profitability with purpose, ensuring land continues to support livelihoods and lifestyles well into the future.
For more information, download the Tritax landowner strategy guide from the company website to learn how we can help you maximise the value of your land.
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