Rural jobs boost as property developer breathes new life into ancient barns

The Courtyard, which stands on the A65 near Settle in North Yorkshire, is now home to a cluster of small businesses, including a cabinet maker and upholsterer, a wine merchant and a fabrics retailer.

The development was created by local businessman Mark Hancock, who was concerned that the barns would deteriorate without investment.

Mr Hancock, who is the chairman of the Skipton-based planning and development firm Rural Solutions, said: “People are drawn towards buildings with real quality. Creating rural employment is massively important, particularly at the moment. The good news is the building teams that were involved in The Courtyard have gone on to be engaged in other work.”

In 2004, Mr Hancock set up Amerdale, a privately-funded development and investment company. Over the next three years, Amerdale built a portfolio of around £100m spread across the UK, Germany and China. He completed the sale of the company in August 2007 to Kilmartin Property Group, where he later took on the role of chief executive to oversee the merger of the two companies.

William Fry, managing director of Rural Solutions, said: “The countryside is alive and incredibly innovative. There are job opportunities in a plethora of businesses. Technology has improved matters, but there are still swathes of North Yorkshire where broadband connectivity is just unacceptable.”

County Councillor Carl Les, chairman of Connecting North Yorkshire, said: “Later this month, North Yorkshire County Council will be signing off the procurement contract for the Connecting North Yorkshire initiative, which will make high-speed broadband available to the vast majority of communities in the county.”