Midlands farms offer privacy and versatility

Two family farms, one an arable holding and the other down to grass, are looking for new owners as they launch this week, both offering privacy.

Hill Farm, a 338-acre fully equipped arable farm in Warwickshire, and Manor Farm, Northamptonshire, both have outbuildings with scope for redevelopment subject to planning permission, extending their appeal to a range of buyers.

See also: Budget measures will force land sales, with implications for values

Hill Farm, near the village of Avon Dassett, is being launched by agent Howkins & Harrison after the death of its owners. It has a guide price of £5m for the whole.

Although the farm sits in a secluded position, it is also close to Midlands conurbations and the motorway network.

The land is mostly Grade 3 arable ground and has slowly permeable, seasonally wet loamy-clay soil with moderate fertility and impeded drainage, suitable both for pasture and combinable crops. There are also some small pockets of woodland.

The land is not currently within a Sustainable Farming Incentive or other environmental management scheme.

A range of traditional and modern farm buildings covers 2,322sq m, some with scope for redevelopment.

They include two portal-frame buildings, general purpose and storage buildings.

A small number of the buildings are currently let out to tenants on commercial agreements, generating additional rental income, but with vacant possession available with three months’ notice.

The seven-bedroom Grade II listed period farmhouse has a heated outdoor swimming pool.

The three-storey property has scope to create further accommodation by reconfiguring the space. Howkins & Harrison is marketing Hill Farm as a whole or in up to three lots.

Northamptonshire grassland farm

Manor Farm © Strutt & Parker

Strutt & Parker is bringing 232-acre Manor Farm, near Horton, to the market at a guide price of £3.9m.

The holding, in a private location at the end of a no-through road, was once part of the Horton Hall Estate, which featured in the Domesday Book in 1086.

Manor Farm has been in the ownership of the same family since 1936, when it was bought at auction.

The farm has views over the former estate and is surrounded by woodland and Yardley Chase, an 884-acre biological site of special scientific interest.

Despite its secluded position it has good links to both Northampton and Milton Keynes.

More recently, the Grade 3 land has run a sheep flock of ewes and fattening lambs, and is currently down to temporary grass.

Soils are clayey and fine soils over clay, which are suitable for permanent grass and winter cereals.

The three-bedroom farmhouse has potential to be extended into adjoining farm buildings.

More than 3,437sq m of farm buildings include portal-frame buildings and an extensive traditional red brick range with character features such as cart lodge arches, which are suitable for conversion subject to planning permission.

The current owners have a small number of equestrian liveries with stables and a manège in place.

Manor Farm is being sold as a whole.