Rare launches in several counties offer variety

A Northumberland livestock and arable farm where the current owner has produced about 50,000 cattle, 160,000 lambs and 30,000 pigs is coming to the market.

Frank Robson, who has a reputation for supplying quality livestock directly to the butchery trade, is retiring from farming and selling South Farm at Ryal near Hexham.

Selling agent John Coleman, head of farm agency at GSC Grays, says Frank has taken the decision following a period of reflection, prompted by recent inheritance tax (IHT) changes and a particularly demanding lambing season.

See also: Choice of land and farms from Devon to Scottish Borders

The farm’s Grade 3 land is set in a ring fence, with 332 acres of arable land, ploughable pasture and permanent grazing.

The modern and traditional stone buildings provide livestock housing and grain storage.

A feature of the four-bedroom Grade II listed 18th-century farmhouse is a rear staircase wing, added in 1771.

GSC Grays is guiding the sale of South Farm at £4m.

Berkshire arable farm

This week’s biggest launch is in Berkshire, where Savills is bringing the 456-acre Home Farm at Upper Basildon to the market at a guide price of £10.97m.

The arable rotation of wheat, barley and a break crop is all grown on Grade 3 land and is farmed in-hand on a contract-farming agreement.

The acreage also includes pasture and woodland and the holding has a grain dryer and storage.

Ground- and roof-mounted solar panels generate an annual Feed-in Tariff income of [£TBC].

The eight-bedroom farmhouse dates back to the 16th century and there are also two cottages, both currently vacant.

Home Farm is available as a whole and also in up to four lots.

Home Farm © Savills

Herefordshire orchards, arable and pasture

In Herefordshire, the upcoming launch of the 177-acre Walsopthorne Farm at Ashperton, near Ledbury, offers multiple possibilities for buyers.

Four generations of the Davies family have farmed the holding since it last changed hands in 1920.

Among their enterprises are 49 acres of cider and traditional orchards – most of the fruit from these is on contract to cider maker Thatchers.

The rest of the acreage is arable and grassland, hop yards, woodland and canal, all set in a ring fence, mostly Grade 2 with some areas of Grade 3.

There are several modern and traditional Grade II listed buildings and a Grade II* listed Elizabethan farmhouse with three bedrooms and an adjoining former oast house.

Sunderlands is guiding the sale at £3m.

Walsopthorne Farm © Sunderlands

South Yorkshire/Derbyshire border

The north of England also has a significant launch, Grange Farm at Harthill, near Sheffield, which is guided by Carter Jonas at £2.7m.

The 164-acre equipped arable holding has Grade 2 land, mostly set in a ring fence and farmed in a combinable crops rotation.

There are 41 acres of productive grassland, subdivided into paddocks and grazed by livestock and horses.

There are general-purpose farm buildings and also more traditional buildings that have potential for alternative uses.

Residential accommodation is provided by a farmhouse with four bedrooms.

Carter Jonas is marketing Grange Farm as a whole or as two lots.

Grange Farm © Carter Jonas

Devon holding and bare land

In Devon, Middle Barlington, near Winkleigh, a productive arable and grassland farm previously farmed as a dairy unit, is set to change hands for the first time in 50 years.

Its 148 acres are mostly Grade 3 and subject to a Countryside Stewardship agreement until 31 December 2026.

Among the modern buildings are three grain stores, cubicle sheds and other livestock housing, and there are traditional brick and stone barns.

The farmhouse has five bedrooms and Middle Barlington is offered for sale through Stags at a guide price of £2.47m, also available in two lots.

Middle Barlington © Stags

The same firm is also selling 54 acres of bare arable and grassland near Two Gates Cross at Rackenford, Tiverton, at a guide price of £540,000.

The Grade 3 land is in two blocks and has soils described as being slowly permeable, seasonally wet acid loam and clay.

The sale is subject to an overage requiring the buyer to pay the vendor 25% of the uplift in value if planning consent is secured for residential or non-agricultural commercial or industrial use within 30 years of the sale.

The land is available as a whole and in two lots.

Land near Two Gates Cross © Stags