Northants farm, Dorset pasture and Worcs woodland

Launches are fewer in number as the UK farmland market nudges past mid-autumn, but a good cross-section of property choices is still being offered for sale.

This week’s principal launch is a 152-acre ring-fenced livestock farm, Braunston Lodge in Northamptonshire, which has been in the ownership of the same family for more than a century.

Retirement brings the farm to the open market for the first time in three generations.

The sale package features 150 acres of pastureland, a range of traditional farm buildings and a four-bedroom farmhouse in need of some modernisation.

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The Grade 3 land has fine loam over clay soil suitable for grass and cereals – the current owner has grazed the land with cattle and sheep, or mown it for hay and silage.

A farm business tenancy runs until 31 October 2027 on 45 acres, where the tenant has been served with notice to quit.

Tim Howard, of selling agent Howkins & Harrison, says regular applications of farmyard manure have kept the farmland in a productive state.

“The majority of fields are stockproof with fencing and mature hedges, and benefit from water troughs,” he says. “The yard and buildings are central to the land, so handling and husbandry is easily accessible.”

Those buildings include a steel, portal-framed shed and a range of single- and double-storey barns, including two sets of stables and stores.

Additional income of about £2,000/year is generated by a telecoms mast held under a 10-year lease by Airwave Solutions since November 2023.

The land is to be sold subject to a development uplift clause that would entitle the seller to be paid 30% of an increase in value generated by any non-agricultural or non-equestrian development that occurs within 30 years from the date of sale.

That clause would not be triggered by the development of agricultural buildings, stables or equestrian facilities, says Tim, but it would apply to an agricultural or equestrian worker’s dwelling.

Braunston Lodge at Braunston near Daventry is on the market at a guide price of £2.4m and is also offered in two lots.

Dorset pasture

Another productive block of pastureland in a ring fence is on the market in Dorset.

The 73-acre block at Manor House Farm, which falls within the Dorset National Landscape at Ibberton, is mostly pasture but also has two acres of woodland and scrub which adds biodiversity and environmental interest, says Geoffrey Jones, of agent Savills.

Two steel-framed buildings are positioned close to the northern entrance, one with a footprint of 372sq m and the other at 335sq m.

Both sheds have been used for wintering livestock or storing feed, neither currently has power or drainage installed.

Geoffrey says the buildings may offer opportunities for a change of use, subject to the necessary consents. Savills has set this sale at a guide price of £1m.

Land at Manor House Farm © Savills

Worcestershire woodland

The agent is also launching a 151-acre block of woodland and pasture near Knightwick, Worcestershire, for offers in excess of £850,000.

The mature woodland, which is in the northern part of the Malvern Hills national landscape, is planted mostly with ash and oak and has smaller areas of other deciduous native species.

Two of the compartments have parts that are designated as ancient and semi-natural woodland, but the majority is classed as replanted ancient woodland.

About 1,336m of deer fencing was erected under a woodland tree health grant in 2023 and 5,850 trees were planted as part of that scheme.

There is an approved felling licence applying to some of the compartments, for thinning and restocking, which expires in August 2032.

Several streams and small pools are set within the wood, and a network of stone tracks.

About 29 acres of the block are areas of pasture.