Berkshire holding offers diverse income potential

A mixed investment farm with commercial and residential lettings close to a motorway services is an unusual proposition but one with great scope.

Hadley Farm, near Hungerford in Berkshire, comes to the market with the retirement of the current owner, who has been farming most of the land in-hand alongside running a pig breeding business on the holding.

In all Hadley Farm covers 77ha (190 acres), 180 acres of which is farmland. It is based around a Second World War airfield and still has some original access tracks from this use.

About 41 acres is let until 2014 and is also subject to an option agreement.

The farm has a guide price of £3m, with a safe return on capital of about 3% under current arrangements from the letting of residential and commercial buildings as well as some farmland, points out Richard Liddiard, head of farm agency at Carter Jonas.

“This is an interesting opportunity that has a mix of agricultural, industrial, and residential properties and is already producing an annual income of £88,000,” he said.

The farm is at Lambourn Woodlands, just inside Berkshire’s western border and straddles the M4 next to Membury Services.

The land is grade 3, with Batcombe Series soil types which are plateau drift with clay and flint. The arable land has been in cereals.

With five dwellings, agricultural and commercial buildings as well as its position next to the motorway, there was plenty of potential to make the asset work, said Mr Liddiard. Single farm payment entitlements are available by separate negotiation.

The tax advantages of land investment alongside economic uncertainty were keeping the land market very tight, said Mr Liddiard.(Carter Jonas 01635 263 012)