Range of farm land opportunities come to market

A good mix of business opportunities and parcels of land are coming to the market across the UK. Farmers Weekly picks out some of the highlights.

Five-year Herefordshire FBT

Farmers have the chance to take on a five-year Farm Business Tenancy at Ludlow Lane between Leominster and Tenbury Wells.

The 121 acres are currently put to pasture but arable crops could be grown on the Grade 3 and 4 soils with the permission of the landlord.

The business is currently set up for a livestock enterprise and has four large farm buildings including a lean-to, Dutch barn and two steel-framed structures. There is also a collection yard but no residential property.

The pasture comprises 19 fields on mostly level ground, which is well stock-fenced and has access to water. No environmental stewardship agreements are in place and BPS entitlements will be transferred with the tenancy, which is due to commence on 1 April.

Tenders close on 30 March.

McCartneys (01544 230 316)

Rare Warwickshire enterprise

A diverse range of residential property and 233 acres of predominantly arable land makes Lodge Farm in Kineton, near Warwick, an unusual business proposition. It is marketed at offers in excess of £4.95m.

The former livestock farm has converted a number of farm buildings to houses and commercial lets but retains 7,000t of grain storage, a dryer, cleaner and weighbridge to support the in-hand arable operation.

The farm business earns an average annual income of £80,000 while the commercial lets bring in an additional £131,000. Nine of the 11 houses on the farm are also currently occupied by tenants.

The Grade 3 land lies in a ring fence surrounding the farmyard and comprises 218 acres of arable put to cereals and grass.

There is also a 10-acre block of permanent pasture and fives acres of woodland.

No agri-environment agreements are in place but the land falls within an NVZ and BPS is included.

Strutt & Parker (01295 273 592)

Large arable block near Winchester

Investors are likely to compete for 1,057 acres of predominantly arable land south of Winchester, which is for sale as a whole for £13m.

A contractor currently manages the combinable crop rotation and grazes the 83 acres of pasture with a herd of Sussex cattle. The block of land, which is divided by two roads, also has 76 acres of woodland.

Entry Level Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship agreements run until 2023 and earn £18,000 per year.

The seller will also transfer 418 BPS entitlements to the buyer, which are each worth £195.41.

The Grade 3 chalky, flint soils grew winter wheat at 4.4t/acre in 2014 while winter oilseed rape produced 1.6t/acre. Spring barley yielded 3.3t/acre and perennial ryegrass seed produced 0.6t/acre.

There is scope to extend the contract farming agreement or to arrange a Farm Business Tenancy.

Savills (01962 841 842)

Kent grazing ground

A 50-acre block of Kent pasture is available at a guide price of £375,000.

The land at Mapleton Road near Crockham Hill is suited to livestock grazing or equestrian use.

With good access the Grade 3 pasture is well-managed and contains some woodland and copses.

There are no BPS entitlements to be transferred with the sale and the land is not covered by any existing agri-environment agreements.

Savills (01444 446 066)

Opportunity on English-Welsh border

Arable farmers in Shropshire looking to extend their acreage may look at the 85-acre block at Uffington, near Shrewsbury.

The largest of the three neighbouring fields is 36 acres while the remaining two are both about 24 acres. All have been put to oilseed rape for 2015 cropping and have been farmed in typical arable rotation for many years.

BPS will be transferred to the buyer who will also take on the Entry Level Stewardship agreement, which runs until June 2018.

The land is for sale as a whole at a guide price of £860,000.

Berrys (01743 271 697)

Shropshire land to be auctioned

Two blocks of Shropshire land will be auctioned on 19 March.

Halls will invite bids for 15 acres of arable land at Soulton Road, near Wem, and eight acres of pasture with fishing rights on the River Sever at Montford Bridge, near Shrewsbury.

The land at Wem has a guide price of £130,000 and potatoes were grown on the sandy/medium loam type soils last year.

The pasture, which includes a timber-framed building with potential to convert to residential use, has a guide price of £60,000.

The auction takes place at 3pm at Halls’ Battlefield headquarters in Shrewsbury.

Halls (01743 450 700)

Essex arable land

Six parcels of arable land totalling 88 acres have been put up for sale as a whole in Essex for £950,000.

The compact block, situated near Colne Engaine, has a well-maintained tarmac entrance and is currently contract farmed with the land put to winter and spring cereals, oilseed rape and field beans.

A two-acre woodland is included in the sale and the BPS entitlements which cover the Grade 3 arable land are included in the sale.

Savills (07967 555 528)