County Durham farm with wind turbines comes on the market

County Durham sees relatively few farm sales but George F White’s Andrew Entwhistle has got something especially unusual ready to launch on 1 June.

Not only will Mr Entwhistle be selling the largest farm to come to the market in the county for some years, but the sale will also include the first wind farm to be sold in the north east of England.

High Hedley Hope Farm near Tow Low, two miles from the A68, is being sold by Colin and Vivien Whitfield who are emigrating to set up a new farming business in New Zealand.

According to Mr Entwhistle, the couple are leaving their 759-acre farm in excellent condition. “Opportunities to purchase a farm of this calibre are rare. This is a very good working farm and an ideal investment opportunity,” he said.

Mr Entwhistle has priced the property at £3.25m and has also split it into six lots. “I’m really not sure if it will sell as a whole or in lots. Some of the lots are unusually large and will stand on their own, but it’s rare to have the opportunity to buy a farm this large in County Durham,” he said.

What would be really intriguing, added Mr Entwhistle, would be to see the level of interested by the wind farm.

Phase One of the development consists of three 800kw turbines run by EDF Energy that generate about £7300 each year.

Including 101 acres of pasture, it is priced at £355,000.

The next stage of the project will be built on the main lot of the sale, which includes a five-bed house, a bungalow, an extensive range of buildings and 267 acres.

Four 1.3mw turbines are due to come on stream by May 2008 and should provide an annual income of up to £27,000. The guide is £1.9m.

Smiths Gore’s Sam Tydeman will also be testing the County Durham market with two smaller farms that look like good value for anybody wanting a traditional house with about 200 acres in Weardale.

Both farms are being sold by the same vendor. Coves House Farm, near Wolsingham, comes with a Grade II listed five-bed house and 211 acres with a 10-day family shoot. It is priced at £950,000.

East Biggins Farm near Frosterley is guided at £850,000 and includes a listed three-bed Georgian farmhouse that needs some attention and 210 acres.  “The location is stunning,” said Mr Tydeman.

Farm for sale near County Durham.