Farmland launches from north of Scotland to Home Counties – Farmers Weekly

The spring market for farm sales is picking up pace, with several new launches across the UK and more in the pipeline.

A sizeable arable farm with several dwellings has come onto the market near Little Sampford, north Essex.

The 912-acre Tewes Farm has been farmed with meticulous care and attention, says James Wood, partner and head of rural agency at selling agent Bidwells.

See also: Stamp duty and farmland – how it works and what to expect

An equipped holding of this scale for sale in the region is rare.

“This is an exciting opportunity for either farmers or investors looking to acquire a block of commercial farmland alongside well-looked-after buildings and a let residential portfolio,” says James.

The land includes 890 acres of arable cropped ground and 17 acres of woodland with the Grade 2 soils suitable for a wide range of crops.

Typical cropping includes first and second wheats, winter and spring barley, oilseed rape and beans.

The farmland is set across a number of good sized fields.

Grain storage investment

There has been recent investment in a 3,000t grain store with underfloor drying and automatic grain stirrers.

Further farm infrastructure includes machinery stores, general farm buildings and workshops.

Tewes Farm is subject to a Countryside Stewardship agreement.

The residential elements include a restored Grade II-listed, four-bedroom farmhouse with many character features; Barnfield Cottage, which was formerly an annexe of the farmhouse but is now let as a one-bedroom cottage; and two semi-detached cottages.

The farmhouse, Barnfield Cottage and one of the farm cottages are let on assured shorthold tenancies.

Bidwells has set a guide price of £10.95m for the whole. 

Scottish arable holding

Cairnton Farm © Savills

In Scotland, Cairnton Farm has come to the market with Savills, with offers of more than £3.9m sought for the whole, or in two lots.

The 455-acre holding in Howe of the Mearns, near Laurencekirk, sits roughly equidistant between Dundee and Aberdeen.

It has been farmed by the same family for the past three generations, and in recent years as a mainly arable unit.

There are 390 acres of arable and an underground irrigation system, 35 acres of permanent pasture let on an annual basis for cattle and sheep grazing, and 13 acres of woodland.

An extensive range of modern and traditional farm buildings includes potato and grain storage, workshops and livestock housing.

There is potential for an income from mineral extraction, as a 2018 survey concluded that the site had approximately 1.6m tonnes of high-grade gravel and sand with a production life of 16 years.

The quarry and some of the fields are subject to an obligation on the purchaser to pay 10% of any royalties to the seller for a period of 25 years.

The south-facing Victorian farmhouse has four bedrooms and three reception rooms, and is surrounded by woodlands and gardens.

There is an option for the buyer to also purchase four farm cottages in a separate transaction.

Borders lifestyle farm

Grey Peel © GSC Grays

Further south, at Jedburgh on the Scottish Borders, GSC Grays is launching the 138-acre Grey Peel, a farm nestling between two glens and which in recent years has been used for pedigree Texel sheep production.

Set within what is described as stunning and diverse countryside, James Denne, farm sales agent at GSC Grays, says Grey Peel offers a wonderful lifestyle property.

The land is predominantly classed as Grade 3.1 and 4.2 by the James Hutton Institute.

It includes 79 acres of pasture, there is also rough grazing and 39 acres of mixed amenity woodland and glens.

Grey Peel has two main farm buildings, one of which is livestock housing and another a six-bay general purpose shed.

The farmhouse has five principal reception rooms, four bedrooms and five bathrooms with formal Italian sunken and kitchen gardens.

There is also a two-bedroom farm cottage.

Offers of more than £1.9m are sought for the whole.