Wiltshire’s property market is hotting up

WILTSHIRE IS this week’s property hotspot with the launch of a large commercial unit and the sale of an historic estate prior to its public launch.

Ian Hepburn of Strutt & Parker’s Salisbury office is selling 730-acre Manor Farm at Newton Tony, nine miles away. The arable and sheep business has been owned by the retiring vendor for many years, but Mr Hepburn said she now felt too old to cope with the constant pressure and responsibility.

“She has been involved in farming all of her life and the farm is now run by a manager, but she has decided that now is the time to retire from farming altogether.”

Because the farm does not include a principal house, Mr Hepburn said it was probably the largest farm sold in the county for a number of years that might attract more commercial interest than residential buyers.

Manor Farm

However, he didn’t ruling out a non-farmer buying Manor Farm as a shelter from inheritance tax. A village centre farmyard in need of updating could also provide the location for a new house in return for relocating the buildings, if planners were amenable, added Mr Hepburn. “But at the moment it is definitely outside the village envelope.”

Including a thee-bed listed house and three other cottages, the farm is being guided at £3m with single farm payment entitlements. Mr Hepburn said the preference was to sell as a whole but separate offers for the houses might be considered. There was also a 30% uplift clause if more than one house was built on the farmyard site, he added.

Meanwhile, Clive Hopkins of Knight Frank said he had already wrapped up a deal on the 943-acre Spye Park Estate, near Devizes, before it was even advertised for the first time last week. Although Mr Hopkins said the identity of the purchaser and price paid was covered by a confidentiality clause, it is believed the property sold for over its circa £8m guide.

Like Manor Farm, the estate, which has only changed hands twice in its history, lacks a main dwelling following a disastrous fire in 1974. However, there was consent under former PPG7 legislation for an eight-bed 13,000 sq ft house, which the new owner might be taking up, said Mr Hopkins.

Spye Park was sold by the Spicer family, which has lived there since 1863. It was owned previously by descendants of Sir Richard Beauchamp, a steward to Henry VII.

Farm for sale Wiltshire.