Bare land an auction hit in south-west

BARELAND IN the south-west achieved some strong prices at auction during July.

In Devon, Stags sold 77 acres of pasture at Little Bray Cross, near Barnstaple, to a farmer for £232,000 (£3032/acre) even though no single farm payment was included.

“It was a scorcher,” said agent Alex Rew. Mr Rew said the entitlement had been available separately for £225/acre but the purchaser had decided not buy it.

Symonds & Samson had a real result when five neighbouring land owners fought each other to buy three lots of pasture totalling 157 acres at Pilsdon, near Bridport, Dorset.

They paid £583,000 (£3713/acre) for the privildge – £203,000 over the guide.