In numbers: The changing farmland market

In just 15 years the farmland market has seen huge movement. The graphics and figures below show how prices, rental values and acreage available has changed in Britain’s farmland market.

The data has been collated by Savills-Smiths Gore’s rural research department from the company’s own surveys, unless otherwise stated.

Farmland values are based on the opinions of the firm’s national team of farm agents and the acreage for sale data is based on a national database of all publicly marketed parcels of land of more than 50 acres.

The agricultural rents data is based on rents settled by Savills-Smiths Gore’s national team of rural chartered surveyors.

Figures provided by Jason Beedell, director of research at Savills-Smiths Gore.

Average price across all bare land types (GB)

Increase in land value since 2000

Farmland values are now four times higher than they were at the turn of the century.

Demand from non-farmer buyers, whose primary motives are lifestyle rather than income generation, are increasing competition for farms.

Values increased much faster after the early 1990s when area payments were introduced – and rose especially fast in the late 2000s, almost doubling in the five years to 2010.

Number of farms and bare land for sale (GB)

Average price of bare land across different GB countries and land types

Bare land averages June 2000 (£/acre)

Average price of bare land, all types

Although arable and livestock values have risen by about the same percentage since 2000, arable values have become much higher due to their starting point. Values in England and Wales have quadrupled, while in Scotland they have tripled.

Average size of farm property for sale (GB) in acres

Average size of Scottish farm properties for sale (acres)

Average rent by tenancy type (England and Wales)

Average rent by tenancy type (£/ac)