Diversified Oxford estate and Caerphilly family farm

A ring-fenced farming estate with 810 acres of arable land and 176 acres of pasture, parkland and woodland is being launched for sale in what is described as a “rare and generational opportunity”.

The chance to buy the Nuneham Estate, which sits just five miles from central Oxford, at a guide price of £26.5m is a “compelling proposition”, says Ross Kent, a partner at selling agent Bidwells.

The 1,054-acre estate combines scale, income, heritage and future opportunity, he says.

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“The Nuneham Estate’s proximity to Oxford, together with the diversity of its assets and income streams, will appeal to a wide range of buyers, from private investors and institutions to those seeking a landmark long-term holding,” he says.

The sale includes productive arable farmland and modern and traditional farm buildings.

The principal dwelling is the Grade II* listed Nuneham House and its Mansion Lodge and Boat House which is occupied on a full repairing and insuring lease.

There are a further 27 residential properties let on either an assured periodic tenancy or an assured shorthold tenancy agreement.

Rental income from these and commercial property, workshops and garages is about £400,000/year.

There is also trading income from a purpose-built 10-unit holiday let complex.

Extensive mineral deposits of gravel and sands, which are estimated to be in the region of 4m tonnes, have the potential to deliver significant returns to the landowner.

Contrast in Caerphilly

Ty’r-Y-Wen © Savills

A complete contrast is offered to buyers looking to produce milk or red meat at 138-acre Ty’r Y Wen, near Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly.

It has operated as a dairy farm but could be adapted for beef or sheep, says Daniel Rees, of selling agent Savills.

“It could also serve as a lifestyle property and there is potential for exploring other uses or diversification,” he adds.

The land is mostly productive pastureland for grazing or silage, with pockets of ancient woodland.

One block of land is set around the farmstead and a second sits about half a mile from the main holding.

Among the existing dairy infrastructure are a Fullwood 16:32 herringbone swing-over milking parlour and a 6,000 litre bulk tank.

Extensive modern open-span buildings include feed and machinery stores and livestock sheds with cubicles, covered cattle yards, a cattle handling system, a slurry lagoon and two feed bins.

Stone barns offer potential for conversion to other uses.

As well as a five-bedroom farmhouse, there is a modern four-bedroom bungalow with an agricultural occupancy condition.

Ty’r Y Wen is being offered for sale at a guide price of £2m.

Diverse income in Essex 

Thrifts Hall Farm © Savills

Thrifts Hall Farm in Theydon Bois, Essex, has 63 acres of land, fishing lakes, and two portal-frame former farm buildings.

It has been launched by Savills at a guide price of £3m for the whole and it is also being offered for sale as two lots.

The land is Grade 3 permanent pasture with loam-over-clay soils and is currently farmed under a farm business tenancy agreement ending on 28 September 2026.

The fishing lakes are let to a local fishing club and these – together with three telecoms masts – generate a combined income of more than £15,000/year.

Thrifts Hall Farm comes with a four-bedroom farmhouse and a private footpath to Theydon Bois Underground Station.

Selling agent Jamie Elbourn of Savills describes the farm as having an “incredibly convenient and accessible hilltop position inside the M25, with far-reaching views of rolling fields across to Canary Wharf and the City”.

Subject to planning consent, there may be potential to establish a leisure business, equestrian or livestock enterprise, he adds. Two agricultural barns and meadows offer possible scope for residential development.

The sale is subject to a 30-year overage on some of the land entitling the seller to 30% of its enhanced value if planning permission, deemed planning permission or permitted development rights for any development other than agricultural or equestrian use is granted.