Leicestershire bucks trend with pledge to keep county farms

Leicestershire County Council has pledged to retain and strengthen its county farms estate over the next decade, bucking the wider trend of local authorities selling off farmland across England.

A new rural estate strategy for 2026-2036, approved by the council’s cabinet on 28 April, commits the authority to maintaining its landholding at broadly its current size while increasing support for both new entrants and existing tenants.

The council owns a 2,978ha rural estate, including 2,831ha of farmland across 65 main holdings, valued at £95.9m.

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Annual rental income from the estate has risen from £835,876 a decade ago to £1.07m, driven by rent reviews and investment in buildings and infrastructure.

The strategy document (PDF) places particular emphasis on county farms as a route into agriculture, with proposals for starter or “nursery” units aimed at helping new entrants establish viable businesses.

The council also plans further investment in farm infrastructure and says it wants to encourage tenants to diversify and improve resilience as the industry adapts to changing support schemes and market pressures.

While some uneconomic or underperforming holdings may be sold, the authority says any such disposals will be selective, with proceeds reinvested into improving existing farms or acquiring land that strengthens the wider estate.

The strategy also indicates the estate could retain a similar overall size while operating with fewer farm units, through restructuring and amalgamation.

Leicestershire’s approach contrasts with the long-term national decline in county farms, with many councils reducing or selling agricultural holdings in recent decades.

Alongside its support for commercial farming, the strategy also signals a shift towards a more pragmatic approach to environmental policy, prioritising farm viability alongside targeted delivery such as biodiversity and woodland creation.

The estate delivered total returns of 8.2% in 2024-25, according to council figures, outperforming the wider agricultural investment market.

Council leaders said the strategy had been shaped by feedback from farmers and industry organisations, including the NFU and others, during a winter consultation.

TFA reaction

George Renner, a mixed farmer and the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) lead for Rutland and Leicestershire, said: “The strategy looks like a step in the right direction, but I hope it unfolds as it sounds and translates into positive outcomes for farmers and farming.”

Councillor Harrison Fowler, cabinet member for resources, said the authority wanted to “maximise the land we have and support our farming industry”.

“Ensuring our farms remain successful for the long term is central to this strategy,” he said.

The strategy comes after Reform UK became the largest party on Leicestershire County Council following the May 2025 local elections, forming a minority administration.