Autumn market offers choice of bare land and more farms

The autumn market will see several launches over the next week. Among them are some decent parcels of bare arable land in Suffolk totalling more than 550 acres.

The sales have been generated by a variety of reasons, but include instructions from deceased estates and farms that are restructuring, said selling agent Oliver Holloway of Clark & Simpson.

The largest block is just over 155 acres of Grade 3 land at Ashes Farm, Mendlesham, near Stowmarket.

See also: Global farmland prices rise as demand for land grows

This is well-drained land that has been farmed to high standard, said Oliver.  

The overall guide price is £10,503/acre, with the land available in two lots. The first has just under 117 acres at a guide price of £1.225m.

This has been in a wheat, barley, OSR and beans rotation and is described as very clean, with little blackgrass.

In a similar rotation and condition, the second lot is just over 38 acres and has a guide price of £405,000.

A few miles to the east of this the firm will soon offer almost 121 acres of arable land at Athelington, near Stradbroke. Also, Grade 3, this has a guide price of £1.275m, or £10,540/acre.

Grade 3 arable land at Athelington, near Stradbroke © Land at Mendlesham © Tom Norton/Clarke and Simpson

Following strong activity in the land market for the firm so far this year, there have been signs of slower growth in recent months, said Oliver.

“Despite rising interest and inflation rates, the land market remains robust and there continues to be a lack of supply to match regional demand. 

“The exciting launch of these seven individual properties will be a very good gauge of the farmland market leading into the autumn.” 

The remaining blocks are due for launch soon:

• 89 acres of Grades 2 and 3 land at Sweffling, near Framlingham – guide price £965,000 (£10,842/acre)
• 66.48 acres of Grade 3 land at Wickham Skeith, near Eye – guide price £685,000 (£10,303/acre)
• 54.33 acres of Grade 3 land at Green Farm, Clopton, near Woodbridge – guide price £565,000 (£10,399)
• 38.31 acres of Grade 2 land at Brabling Green, Framlingham – guide price £400,000 (£10,441/acre)
• 27.85 acres of Grade 3 land at Shop Road, Clopton – guide price £300,000 (£10,772).

Wiltshire farm in special setting

Due for launch this week or soon after is Town Farm at Bratton Road, Westbury, in Wiltshire.

© Carter Jonas

This sits on the escarpment of Salisbury Plain below Wiltshire’s famous Westbury white horse landmark.

There is about 155 acres of mainly pasture, with small areas of woodland. The soil is well drained and silty with chalk at less than 30cm deep.

The land has stock-proof fencing and has been grazed by cattle in recent years.

Town Farm has two early to mid-20th century, semi-detached and unlisted red brick cottages. These have been occupied as a single dwelling in recent years.

Each has two bedrooms and would benefit from updating, says selling agent Carter Jonas, which has set a £2.25m guide price for Town Farm. 

Just over 86 acres of the land is in the Bratton Downs SSSI.

This is steeply sloping and extends southwards to the holding’s two most southerly fields, which have a gentler slope and provide good grass crops.

There are several modern farm buildings including three large portal frame buildings, which are in good condition. The smaller buildings are generally in good condition but could do with some improvement.

A Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship agreement runs on Town Farm until 31 December 2024.