AN HISTORIC barn previously used as a village shop is up for sale in Herefordshire.

The barn is on the market with agents Sunderlands with a guide price of £175,000.

The agents said the freehold barn offered an exciting retail or business opportunity in Whitney-on-Wye.

"Church Barn’s prominent roadside location benefits from a high volume of passing trade for both local business and tourist attractions," the agents said.

The barn is accessed directly off the main A438 road.

The "substantial" detached building includes a stone-built front barn and a brick-built barn to the immediate rear, with a large hardcore parking area outside. 

Inside, the agents said, the barn offers "extensive accommodation", with concrete floors, exposed brickwork, and exposed trusses.

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To the rear of the building is a patio area.

Sunderlands said the premises has been used primarily as a farm shop with a cafe and retail space, but is potentially suitable for a wide range of retail uses. 

It could also be used for alternative uses such as light industrial or storage, subject to planning, the agents said. 

Sunderlands said the property has been assessed in the 2023 rating list as a shop and premises with a rateable value of £19,250, but that this has been challenged by the previous tenants and remains under review by the Valuation Office Agency.

Church Barn does have a flooding history, the most extreme of which was during Storm Dennis in 2020, when the ground floor and car park were affected, the agents said, but available remediation strategies have not been implemented. 

The barn is being sold by online auction, which will open on May 7 from 9am and close at 4pm (unless previously sold). The vendors reserve the right to accept an offer prior to the auction.