Farm buildings for Fife and Perthshire
From the arable land of the East Neuk and the Howe of Fife to the livestock farms of Highland Perthshire, Fife and Perthshire farms need buildings that suit very different work. Forge & Frame delivers complete steel-frame farm buildings across both regions: design, consents support, groundworks, frame, cladding, doors and services, on one contract.
Buildings we deliver
- Grain stores, with push walls and drying floors where needed. See grain stores.
- Cattle sheds and courts, with ventilation, feed passages and handling areas. See livestock housing.
- Sheep housing, for lambing and winter housing. See our sheep housing guide.
- Machinery and implement sheds. See machinery sheds.
- General-purpose buildings for straw, fertiliser, equipment and workshops
- Equestrian buildings, including indoor arenas and stables. See equestrian buildings.
Designed for where you farm
Fife's coastal farms are exposed to strong wind off the North Sea and the Forth. Perthshire's upland farms see heavier snow and more rain. Both affect the design:
- Wind loads shape the frame, the bracing and how cladding is fixed, especially on open-sided buildings.
- Snow loads depend on altitude and location, and shape the rafters and purlins. Read choosing steel sections for Scottish snow loading.
- Ventilation for livestock depends on the building's orientation and the prevailing wind.
- Drainage for yards and roofs has to cope with Scottish rainfall and meet SEPA rules where slurry or dirty water is involved.
One contract, one programme
You deal with one contract for the whole building. Typical stages:
- Enquiry. You send your site, building use and rough size.
- Budget price. We come back with a budget figure [CONFIRM: pricing turnaround].
- Design and consents. Layout, engineered design, prior notification or planning, and building warrant if needed.
- Groundworks. Site prep, foundations and slab.
- Frame. Steel frame fabricated and erected by our fabrication and erection partner [CONFIRM: name Hepburn Fabrication publicly?].
- Envelope. Roof and wall cladding, rooflights, gutters.
- Openings and services. Doors, power and lighting as agreed.
- Handover. With drawings and documents.
Planning and permissions in Fife and Perthshire
Fife Council and Perth & Kinross Council both handle prior notifications for agricultural buildings under Class 18 permitted development. Class 18 covers many new farm buildings up to 1,000m² ground area (465m² in designated areas, such as National Scenic Areas and conservation areas), up to 12m high and not within 25m of a trunk or classified road. Buildings for housing pigs or poultry, or storing slurry, have extra distance rules from houses.
Larger buildings, or those that don't meet the conditions, need planning permission. Read our guide to planning for agricultural buildings in Scotland.
Perthshire includes parts of the Cairngorms National Park and several National Scenic Areas, so check designations early.
Building warrants
Agricultural buildings are exempt from building warrants unless they're over 280m², close to a boundary, or used for things like offices or slurry storage. Read do farm buildings need a building warrant?.
Pricing
Every building is priced from your site and spec. Guide price: [PRICE: Iain to confirm]
Fife and Perthshire FAQs
Do you build farm sheds in Fife and Perthshire?
Yes. We deliver steel-frame farm buildings across Fife and Perth & Kinross, as well as the Lothians and the Borders.
Do I need planning permission for a farm shed in Perthshire?
Many farm buildings can go ahead under Class 18 permitted development after a prior notification to Perth & Kinross Council. Larger buildings, or those in some designated areas, may need full planning permission.
Can you handle the groundworks and slab?
Yes. The slab and groundworks are part of the one contract.
Can you design for snow on upland Perthshire farms?
Yes. The frame is designed for the snow and wind loads for your site's location and altitude.
How quickly can I get a price?
Send your details and we'll come back with a budget figure [CONFIRM: pricing turnaround].
Is there a grant for new farm buildings?
The Future Farming Investment Scheme doesn't fund new sheds. See our grants guide.
Get a price for your building
Send us the farm postcode, what the building is for, and a rough size. We'll come back with a budget figure and next steps.