Oxfordshire farmer takes action after 26,000 chickens evacuated

Some 40 firefighters were called to Rickfield Farm, Milcombe in December 2024 to extinguish the blaze which quickly spread throughout the building.

It was not the first fire, though, because in 2013 around 26,000 chickens had to be evacuated, and no birds died in either inferno.

Farm owner Geoffrey Taylor intends to build a more resilient structure to restore its pre-incident contribution to his family business and farm diversification.

Agents for Mr Taylor said: “If the pressures on farmers and farming on the applicant’s land were not already bad enough – from post-Brexit subsidy shifts, significant tax changes, rising costs, low margins, world conflicts, ongoing climate instability and planning challenges – on the evening of 12th December 2024 there was a fire that wrecked a former farm building in commercial use at Rickfield Farm, Milcombe.

“The fire caused devastating damage to the building, its contents and to the businesses involved. Fortunately, there was no loss of life and no damage to the adjoining poultry shed and solar farm.

“An investigation into the cause of the fire was inconclusive.

“After months of dealing with insurers, loss adjusters, customers and others in the aftermath of the fire, the applicant is now in a position to submit this application to replace the fire-ravaged commercial building with a new building to be used for similar commercial purposes as before the fire.”

He said it is “vital” to restore the farm diversification position to that which existed before the fire and to reinstate the income to support the business and Mr Taylor’s regenerative food and farming activities on the overall farm holding.

“This is because it provides a much-needed guaranteed income for the wider farm business, which is not subject to the volatility of the agricultural sector and is needed to offset the obvious farming-based risks, fund the on-going regenerative and sustainable farming practices across 400 acres of farmland in the locality and support three generations of a farming family.”

The fire-damaged building is 903 square metres and planning permission would be needed from Cherwell District Council.

Rickfield Farm comprises about 40 acres of land which is owned and run Mr Taylor and his family.

It is part of a 400-acre farm estate located in and around Hook Norton (Lower Nill Farm), Milcombe and South Newington.

In recent years, Rickfield Farm has had to diversify like many other farms to help, maintain and support the primary purpose of producing food and a sustainable and profitable business.