Top-notch Shropshire arable farm launches soon

A large commercial arable farm in Shropshire is likely to create considerable interest when it is put on the market next week in an area where there is a real shortage of land and farms.

Havenhills and Brockton Farms, near Telford, runs to 248ha (613 acres) of mainly grade 2 land with a five-bedroom farmhouse, extensive farm buildings and two cottages. With 5,000t of grain storage plus cleaning facilities, the total farm buildings extend to 68,800sq ft, including adaptable buildings formerly used as cattle housing.

“This is a fantastically good, practical arable farm,” said Savills agent Tony Morris-Eyton. “It is a cracking commercial opportunity, is very well equipped and has been extremely well farmed. It will be of interest to a large farming business, or an investor for tax planning purposes.”

The medium sandy loam is currently in a rotation of cereals, oilseed rape and potatoes, but would also be suitable for other roots and cash crops. Almost all the land is registered for the single payment, and is entered into the Higher Level Stewardship scheme.

“There are two main ranges of farm buildings incorporating adaptable storage and business opportunities,” said Mr Morris-Eyton. “The Havenhills buildings provide facilities for cleaning and storage of 1,300t of individual crops in the comprehensive range of grain bins while the Brockton buildings provide a range of bulk grain storage bunkers with part on-floor drying facilities.

“A cattle feed lot operation for 400 head was previously based at the Brockton buildings. The basic fabric remains in place and, as such, this business could easily bere-instated, or the buildings could be adapted for general agricultural storage or alternative uses.”

The existing business, BJ Ward (Farms), is also for sale following the death of director Meyrick Ward. The vendors would prefer to sell the company and farm together, and have set a guide of £5m for the freehold assets of the company, which include the farmland, farmhouse buildings and two cottages. The joint agent is Nock Deighton Agricultural and the farm has also been lotted 10 ways.

Three other farm cottages may be available by separate negotiation. (Savills 01952 239500; Nock Deighton Agricultural 01746 762666)