Call us now on 01356628560
Call us now on 01356628560
St Andrews Coach Houses offers luxury self-catering lodges on Priorletham Farm. By generating its own power with a 38kWp ground-mounted solar array, the business is showing what sustainable rural tourism can look like in practice.
ground-mount array
annual energy generation
CO₂ saved each year
projected payback
St Andrews Coach Houses is a collection of luxury self-catering lodges set in the countryside outside St Andrews. The lodges sit on Priorletham Farm, a fully operational farm that the Picken family has managed for the last century.
Running holiday accommodation alongside a working farm means high energy use, and the family became increasingly aware of both the environmental impact and the rising cost. They began looking at more sustainable ways to power the business and reduce their reliance on the national grid. Solar suited them as a long-term investment, in keeping with their commitment to responsible rural tourism.
"As a family run business with strong farming roots, we’ve always been very conscious of our environmental impact. Like many others, we’ve seen energy costs rise. Our goal when installing the solar panels was twofold: to reduce our reliance on the national grid and to provide our guests with an experience that truly reflects our eco-conscious values."
-Claire Picken, Farm Manager, St Andrews Coach Houses
Forster Group worked closely with the Picken family to design a bespoke ground-mounted system that could power both the working farm and the luxury lodges efficiently. It sits comfortably within the rural setting, so the site keeps its visual appeal, while delivering long-term carbon reductions and operational savings that support the business as it grow
The installation was delivered with minimal disruption, which mattered on a site where the farm and the guest retreat both keep running.
"We had a great experience working with Forster Group. They were professional, informative and flexible, which was essential for balancing a major installation with the day-to-day running of a working farm and luxury retreat."
-Claire Picken, Manager, St Andrews Coach Houses
Estimated long-term saving of £324,943, with carbon savings of over 461,000kg across 30 years.
The system now powers a significant portion of the day-to-day running of the farm and lodges. The Pickens have already seen a real difference in their energy costs, and with the peak season under way, the benefit will be felt across the business. The estimated long-term saving is £324,943.
The system also gives the family room to grow. Additions such as outdoor saunas are planned and the solar supply will help meet that extra demand.
"Since the installation, we've seen a real difference in our energy costs. It also gives us credibility. We can show our guests that sustainability isn’t just a marketing line. We live and breathe it. As more tourists actively seek out eco-friendly getaways, this is a huge advantage for us."
-Claire Picken, Manager, St Andrews Coach Houses
Thinking about solar for your farm or rural business? Forster group can look at how your site used power and deign a system around it. Farms can meet their own energy needs, contribute clean power back to the grid, and protect themselves from future energy price shocks.
Tel: 01356628560
Email: enquiries@forstergroup.co.uk
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