Good choice of small and medium farms bolster land markets

A range of medium and smaller farms lead the way on new launches this week.

Whether it’s the uncertainty that looms large ahead of the chancellor’s Autumn Budget or vendors eyeing the shorter days and poorer weather as less desirable for viewings, agents report a tailing off in new instructions for farm and bare land launches.

However, there is still activity, including the launch of Plas, a 155-acre arable and grassland farm at Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog near Oswestry.

See also: Shropshire ‘jewel’ farm estate offers all round asset

This ring-fenced holding has gently rolling land with free-draining acid loamy soils over rock and offers productive agricultural potential, says Charlene Sussums-Lewis of selling agent Carter Jonas.

Plas is part of the Llanarmon Estate which has been let for many years, but the decision has been made to dispose of it to release capital for other investments.

Modern portal-framed buildings are suitable for storage, livestock housing and other agricultural uses, and there is a range of traditional stone outbuildings.

The stone structures have the potential to be converted for alternative uses, says Charlene.

“The nearby village of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog is popular with holidaymakers, hill walkers and shooting parties, so there is a strong demand for quality accommodation,” she adds.

A four-bedroom farmhouse is “idyllically positioned” and Carter Jonas is launching Plas this week at a guide price of £1.6m.

Former dairy farm

Park Farm, near Shrewsbury © Roger Parry & Partners

Across the border in Shropshire, 167-acre Park Farm at Yockleton, near Shrewsbury, is new to the market too.

Described by selling agent Roger Parry & Partners as a highly productive grassland farm, previously in an arable rotation, this former dairy farm is being offered at a guide price of £2.9m.

The land is mainly in a ring-fence apart from two fields separated from the rest of the block by a railway track.

Its buildings include cattle housing, a crop store and a slurry tower, along with brick and tile traditional buildings set in a courtyard, including a former milking parlour.

The farmhouse has four bedrooms, with attic rooms suitable for conversion, and a derelict house sits next to the farm buildings.

Smallholding – Tyne and Wear

Hollin Hill Farm, Derwent Valley © GSC Greys

Also in a scenic location, this time in the Derwent Valley, Hollin Hill Farm at Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear, is being sold for personal reasons.

Set in a ring-fence, the 46-acre holding, described as “a desirable smallholding”  includes productive permanent pasture, agricultural and livery buildings and a four-bedroom farmhouse.

A range of traditional stone-built farm buildings has stabling for seven horses and feed and tack room facilities, and there is a pole barn with a lean-to and a modern general-purpose shed.

The farm’s livery business has an outdoor arena to the south of the farmstead.

The land is mostly productive grassland that has been used for haylage and livestock grazing. There is also eight acres of amenity woodland.

The land is classified as Grade 3 and has slowly permeable, seasonally wet, clay loam soils.

John Coleman, head of farm agency at selling agent GSC Grays, says the farm has a lot of appeal.

Its launch represents “a great opportunity to buy a desirable smallholding property set within a manageable acreage, with outbuildings suitable for agricultural and equestrian use.”

Hollin Hill Farm is on the market at a guide price of £985,000. 

Retirement land sale

Land at East Kirkland, Wigtown © Savills

Larger in scale and with a mixture of silage land and salt marsh, 194 acres of land at East Kirkland Farm, near Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway, is on the market due to retirement.

There are 57 acres divided into four fields for grazing and silage. The remainder is an expanse of salt marsh used for spring and summer grazing.

The land, all in a ring-fence, is classified by the James Hutton Institute as a mixture of classes 4(1) and 6(1).

The sale includes a timber-framed barn with corrugated iron cladding.

Savills describes the land as versatile and is seeking offers of more than £530,000.