Data-Driven Strawberry Farming — Backed by Infrastructure
Understand the UK market opportunity, the Solar-Berry Hub's competitive edge, and why off-grid vertical farming is built to outperform — in summer and winter.
Potential land to rent Research
Internal research into potential land to rent nearest to Manchester for Dillon's Strawberry Farm expansion. 66 farms identified. 1. Ryders Farm — BL4 9JZ — https://www.visitbolton.com/business-listing/ryders-farm/ 2. Bent Spur Farm — BL7 0LL — No website available 3. Higher Woodhill Farm — BL7 0JA — No website available 4. Chadwicks Farm — BL7 0HA — No website available 5. J Fisher — BL7 0PA — No website available 6. Charles Gregory & Sons — BL7 0QA — No website available 7. L J & S Fielding — BL7 0RA — No website available 8. J A Entwistle — BL7 0SA — No website available 9. G Snowden & Son — BL7 0TA — No website available 10. Quarlton Fold Farm — BL7 0HU — https://www.quarltonfoldfarm.co.uk/ 11. Peers Clough Farm — BB4 9NG — http://www.peerscloughfarm.co.uk/ 12. Annis Hill Farm — OL16 3TR — https://www.annishillfarm.co.uk/ 13. Brocklehead Farm — BB3 1LF — https://brockleheadcaravanpark.co.uk/ 14. Smithson Farm — BB12 9DR — https://www.visitlancashire.com/places-to-stay/smithson-farm-p681880/location-t29560 15. Fielden Farm — OL15 0JN — http://www.fieldenfarm.co.uk/ 16. Light Ash Farm — PR3 0RT — http://www.lightashfarmshop.co.uk/ 17. Honeywells Farm Shop — BB9 8JQ — https://www.honeywellfarmshop.com/ 18. Mrs Kirkhams Lancashire Cheese — PR3 2FL — https://www.mrskirkhamscheese.co.uk/ 19. Goosnargh Gin Farm — PR3 2FJ — https://goosnarghgin.co.uk/ 20. Heritage Kitchen Farm — OL13 8AB — https://heritagekitchen.co.uk/ 21. Heskin Hall Farm — PR7 5PA — https://heskinhallshoppingvillage.co.uk/ 22. La Locanda Farm — BB7 4HH — https://lalocanda.co.uk/ 23. Gazegill Organics — BB7 4EE — https://gazegillorganics.co.uk/ 24. Greenlands Farm Village — LA6 1JH — https://greenlandsfarmvillage.co.uk/ 25. Saswick House Farm — PR4 3XD — https://saswickhousefarmshop.co.uk/ 26. Windmill Animal Farm — PR4 5XJ — https://www.windmillanimalfarm.co.uk/ 27. Farmer Ted's Farm Park — L40 8JY — http://www.farmerteds.com 28. Cedar Farm — PR3 1LP — https://www.cedarfarm.net/ 29. Nutstile Farm — BB7 4LA — https://www.nutstile.com 30. Cragg Farm — BB7 4PF — https://www.craggfarm.com 31. Cowran Estate — CA6 5UZ — https://www.cowranestate.com 32. Green Bank Farm — LA2 0BQ — https://lancasterkennels.co.uk 33. Park House Barn — LA2 0BL — https://www.parkhousebarn.co.uk 34. Farm on the Fell — PR3 1UT — https://facebook.com/cowwithcalfdairy 35. Lancashire Local Farm — No postcode available — https://lancashirelocal.com/ 36. Farm Yard Brew Company — LA1 1QY — No website available 37. S & C H Brennand Farm — No postcode available — https://www.nutstile.com/ 38. Worrall House Farm — No postcode available — http://www.farmerteds.com/ 39. Fishers Mobile Farm — No postcode available — No website available 40. Countrystyle Kitchen Farm — No postcode available — No website available 41. The Home Farm Shop — No postcode available — No website available 42. Bowland Food Hall Farm — No postcode available — No website available 43. The Farm Burscough — No postcode available — No website available 44. Hardhorn Breaks Farm — No postcode available — No website available 45. Lakewood Cottages Farm — No postcode available — No website available 46. D B Farming Ltd — BL5 3LY — No website available 47. Prestige Framing Farm — BL1 8HE — No website available 48. S Gilmore Livestock Transport Farm — OL10 3EU — No website available 49. J Raby Farm — No postcode available — No website available 50. Tulford Farm — No postcode available — No website available 51. Mooredge Farm — No postcode available — No website available 52. Yew Tree Farm South — No postcode available — No website available 53. Townleys Farm — No postcode available — No website available 54. Fernhill Farm — No postcode available — No website available 55. Walsh Fold Farm — No postcode available — No website available 56. Birches Farm — No postcode available — No website available 57. Higher Barn Farm — No postcode available — No website available 58. Reeves House Farm — No postcode available — No website available 59. Wheatsheaf Farm — No postcode available — No website available 60. Three Lovers Farm — No postcode available — No website available 61. Allwood House Farm — No postcode available — No website available 62. Highbank Farm — No postcode available — No website available 63. Martin Lane Farm Cottages — No postcode available — No website available 64. Gragg Hall Farm — No postcode available — No website available 65. Saswick House Farm Shop & Tearoom — No postcode available — No website available 66. The Farm, Burscough — No postcode available — No website available
UK strawberry market: strong demand, significant opportunity for off-grid vertical growers
The UK soft fruit sector is expanding rapidly. Vertical farming with off-grid infrastructure — like the Solar-Berry Hub — positions growers to capture year-round demand and premium winter pricing that traditional field-grown competitors cannot match.
£500M+
UK strawberry market value
The UK strawberry sector is valued at over £500M annually. Domestic supply gaps — particularly in winter — create pricing power for year-round vertical growers like the Solar-Berry Hub.
30-50%
Winter premium over field-grown competitors
UK field-grown strawberries are typically a May–September crop. Off-grid enclosed vertical growing captures a 30–50% price premium in Q4/Q1 when competitors have nothing to sell.
65%
UK consumers prefer locally grown produce
65% of UK consumers actively choose locally grown strawberries. Manchester-grown, pesticide-free, zero food miles — the Solar-Berry Hub is positioned directly where consumer demand is heading.
3x
Yield increase vs traditional farming
Vertical grow towers produce three times the yield per square metre of traditional ground-level farming. At 120 towers within 5,000 sq ft, production scales without additional land rental cost.
From 1 Tower to 28x Soon 500x Vertical Towers The Story Behind Dillon's Strawberry Farm
Every big idea starts small. Ours started with a single vertical grow tower in Manchester and a belief that there was a better way to grow strawberries in the UK. How It Started Anthony Dillon began Dillon's Strawberry Farm as a passion project — experimenting with vertical growing technology at a small scale to see what was possible. The results were immediate and exciting. The strawberries were better, the process was cleaner, and the potential was obvious. There was no grand business plan at the start. Just a tower, a handful of strawberry plants, and a genuine curiosity about whether this could become something real. Growing Fast From that first tower, the farm has grown to 28 operational units. Each addition brought new learning, new optimisation, and better produce. What started as a hobby has become a serious agricultural start-up with a real vision for the future of UK farming. Along the way, the farm has evolved significantly. We now operate shipping container infrastructure with solar panels and rainwater collection. We have plans for polly tunnels, an on-site café, and a retail product range covering 54 strawberry-derived products — from artisan gin to luxury soaps. What's Next The next phase for Dillon's Strawberry Farm includes expanded growing capacity, a dedicated e-commerce platform, wholesale supply partnerships with Manchester restaurants and retailers, and a fully open vertical farm within the next 12 to 18 months. From 1 tower to 28 — and we're only just getting started. Lets Get to 500 Towers. Sponsor A Tower via PayPal. Manchester's freshest strawberries are just the beginning. — Anthony Dillon, Founder, Dillon's Strawberry Farm
Business Rates & Agricultural Exemptions – UK Guidance
In the UK, farmland is generally exempt from business rates. Under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, agricultural land and buildings are automatically zero-rated — not entered into the rating list — as long as: (1) the land is used for farming purposes (e.g. growing crops, rearing livestock, market gardening), and (2) any structures on it are used solely in connection with those agricultural activities. Whether a shipping container or canopy qualifies depends on how they are used and whether they meet the legal definition of 'agricultural buildings'.
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