Shropshire brings 1,580 acres to farmland market
Two farms totalling about 1,580 acres are for sale in Shropshire, including a highly commercial farming estate.
Lydebrook Farm, near Little Wenlock, Telford, spans about 944 acres and has a substantial number of modern agricultural buildings, plus five residential properties including the main farmhouse.
On the Shropshire/Worcestershire border, 638-acre Birch Farm is for sale, near Bewdley, Kinlet, with a range of modern farm buildings, a Grade II listed farmhouse and three further residential properties.
“We are excited to have instruction to offer two significant farms to the market,” said James Prewett, head of regional farm sales at Knight Frank.
“Lydebrook offers a very significant area of land, property and buildings which will suit a range of farming and investment buyers. Birch Farm is a classic ring-fenced holding with the basis to create a superb family farm – we are anticipating a range of interest from a wide variety of purchasers.”
Lydebrook is farmed in-hand, with about 485 acres in an arable rotation, about 380 in permanent pasture and 52 acres of woodland.
The Grade 3 land has been used to grow combinable crops including oats, barley and wheat. It was formerly a dairy farm but the grassland is now used for fattening cattle.
The farm buildings are extensive with mainly modern portal-framed buildings, including two cattle barns, two dutch barns, two general-purpose buildings, a feed barn, mill mix barn and grain store.
Two of the residential properties will be vacated on sale, while three will be subject to assured shorthold tenancy (currently generating about £2,300/month rental income). Commercial lets also generate a revenue of £15,000/year.
The farm is subject to ELS and HLS agreements ending in 2021. SPS entitlements are included in the sale of Lydebrook, which has a guide price of £6.6m.
At Birch Farm, the land and agricultural buildings are let on an FBT due to end in September next year. The main farmhouse will be vacated on sale, while the other residential properties are let.
The farmland is mainly arable, with some pasture bordered by woodland. It is Grade 3 with well-drained coarse loamy soils.
Farm buildings are located in the centre of the holding and include a courtyard of traditional stone and red brick buildings that could offer conversion opportunities.
Modern buildings include two grain stores totalling 6,600sq ft, grain bins, a dutch barn, two pole barns and a general-purpose barn with lean-to.
ELS and HLS agreements are due to expire in October 2016. Some land is in a nitrate vulnerable zone.
Birch Farm is for sale at a guide price of £6m, including SPS entitlements. (Knight Frank 08442 259 495)