A 7.3-acre glasshouse complex in Roydon near Harlow is up for sale as the commercial crisis facing greenhouse growers continues to intensify.
Netherall Nursery comprises some 28,600 sq. m. of glass, the majority of which is Venlo design. According to agents Bidwells, ‘Netherhall Nursery is a modern horticultural glasshouse production unit specialising currently in sweet pepper production using hydroponics.
‘The newer blocks have growing channels supported by hangers. The older glass has floor mounted beds. All cropping areas have full pipe heating, which doubles as crop rails for materials handling, supplied by a central boiler house.’ The facility has an asking price of £2.1 million.
As the nursery went on the market, The Sun reported that, Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena will visit the Netherlands next week to study the ‘Dutch model’ of high-tech greenhouses and vertical farming. Mr Jayawardena was quoted as saying, “Our Dutch neighbours are experts in glasshouse growing, so I want to see how we can expand this sector back home and grow more outstanding British produce.”
In response, the Lea Valley Growers Association tweeted, ‘We’ve been here for 150 years, 20 miles from Downing street @ranil you are welcome to visit, why go to Holland? #Backbritishfarming.’