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Farm machinery continues to grow in size, value and technological sophistication, making secure storage and dedicated machinery sheds more essential than ever for UK farmers. Whether you are building a brand-new steel-framed machinery shed, expanding an existing building, or upgrading to meet the demands of modern equipment, Gable Business Finance offers flexible and accessible finance solutions tailored specifically to agriculture.
This guide explores finance options, shed types, UK planning changes, and the growing demand for machinery storage across British agriculture.
Farmers today have a wide range of finance routes available when investing in machinery sheds or equipment. Whether the goal is to own the building outright, preserve cash flow, or upgrade storage capacity without tying up capital, agricultural finance provides structured, flexible solutions.
Hire Purchase is one of the most popular ways to finance agricultural machinery sheds. With HP you:
Farm development loans can be used for:
This option is ideal for farms planning full-scale yard redevelopment or multi-use agricultural buildings.
PCP is most commonly used for agricultural vehicles but can sometimes apply to workshop or yard assets. It offers:
A finance lease allows you to rent the shed or equipment for a set term, with options to:
Finance leases are ideal for businesses that want long-term use without immediate ownership.
Perfect for businesses wanting new sheds or equipment without long-term commitments. With an operating lease:
Leasing allows you to:
Farmers can release capital tied up in:
This cash injection can be used to build a new machinery shed, improve infrastructure or support working capital.
Revolving credit facilities provide fast access to funds for:
This is ideal for farms needing rapid funding without a full loan application.
The demand for machinery sheds is accelerating rapidly across UK farms, driven by modern agricultural practices, high-value machinery, and new government building allowances. These sheds are no longer optional — they are essential infrastructure.
Modern machinery is:
Tractors, combines, sprayers, balers and seed drills now contain GPS systems, onboard computers, and sensitive electronics that can be easily damaged by moisture, frost and prolonged exposure to UV light.
Protecting these high-value assets is essential to avoid depreciation, breakdowns and costly repairs.
Modern farms rely on fast turnaround times during key seasons. Proper machinery sheds help by:
Recently revised UK Permitted Development Rights have made it easier to construct agricultural buildings without full planning permission.
This expansion reflects the government’s recognition of modern farming’s need for larger buildings to accommodate modern machinery and diversified operations.
Machinery sheds are increasingly used for:
Modern steel sheds allow easy integration of:
Protecting machinery also reduces replacement cycles, contributing to lower carbon footprints.
Farm machinery sheds in the UK are typically built from steel or timber, each offering different benefits depending on budget, scale and operational needs.
Steel buildings are often:
Timber buildings are particularly suitable for:
However, they require more maintenance than steel buildings and may not be suitable for wide clear-span designs.
The UK agricultural landscape features a wide variety of machinery shed styles, from traditional timber structures to modern clear-span steel buildings.
These are commonly used in arable and mixed farming. Features include:
Examples include old wagon sheds still found on historic farms. These buildings may have:
Custom-built to meet multifunctional needs such as:
Purpose-built structures include:
An arable farm in Lincolnshire required covered storage for two combines, three tractors and a sprayer. Gable Business Finance structured a hire purchase agreement enabling the farmer to build a 1,200m² clear-span steel shed under permitted development rules.
A mixed farm in Cheshire wanted to expand an existing shed with a new lean-to for attachments and trailers. Gable financed the extension and new concrete base, improving yard organisation and machinery protection.
A dairy enterprise in Devon built a dual-purpose shed for tractor storage and a maintenance workshop. Gable arranged asset finance covering the structure, lighting, power installation and workshop equipment.
A small livestock farm replaced an ageing wooden shed with a steel implement store. Gable provided a finance lease, enabling the upgrade without large upfront cost.
An agricultural contractor needed a central base for machinery servicing and storage. Gable Business Finance funded a large workshop/shed combination, allowing the business to expand its fleet and operate more efficiently.
Many machinery sheds fall under agricultural permitted development rights, but this depends on size, location and farm type. Larger structures may require full planning permission. Always check with your local authority.
Yes — depending on lender criteria, Gable Business Finance can include the building, groundwork, concrete base and internal fit-out within one finance package.
Hire Purchase: You own the shed at the end of the term.
Finance Lease: You rent long-term and may take ownership via a final small payment.
Yes. Farmers can choose repayment schedules that align with harvest income or seasonal cash flow cycles.
Refinancing is available in some cases to unlock capital tied up in buildings or equipment.
Yes. Most steel-framed sheds are modular and built to allow future extensions or lean-to additions.
Yes — both steel and timber structures can be financed depending on specification and supplier.
Simple projects can be approved within 24–48 hours. Larger construction projects may take slightly longer.