South Gloucestershire Council has confirmed that the process to select a new lead tenant for Grimsbury Farm in Kingswood is under way, following a public engagement exercise and an initial round of expressions of interest from organisations.
The council launched the search for a new operator after revealing that the farm, which includes paddocks, woodland, a duck pond, and a variety of animals, is costing the authority £250,000 a year to run.
Sean Rhodes, cabinet member for communities at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We know people are keen to hear about the future of Grimsbury Farm, so we wanted to give an update on where we currently are, and also to thank everyone for their feedback and ideas, which have been central to the process of finding a new operator for the farm.
“We’re really pleased with the quality of the proposals that have come through from organisations expressing an interest in running the farm, and we now have to explore them in further detail before we can make any final decisions.
“We aim to announce the new operator by spring next year.
“We recognise that this is a long process, but we know how important the farm is to our residents, and want to ensure we get the best possible long-term outcome for you… and in the meantime, the farm is open to visitors so please come along and enjoy all it has to offer.”
Following the council’s initial assessment, eligible organisations have been invited to submit a full business case and presentation.
These will need to show how their proposals address the findings of the community engagement report and the equalities impact assessment.
The council expects to complete this stage of the process by the end of the year.
South Gloucestershire Council has also received proposals from organisations interested in using parts of the site.
These will be shared with the selected lead tenant to consider future collaboration opportunities.
The council has thanked residents for their feedback, which it said will help shape the future of the farm.