Lincolnshire land has renewbale energy potential
The Church Commissioners for England are selling a large block of arable land in Lincolnshire, which is earmarked as a potential site for renewable energy development.
The 708 acres of mainly Grade 2 land at Manor Farm, West Halton, come with 800t of grain storage, but no other buildings. Well suited to growing sugar beet, potatoes and cereals, the land has also been identified for potential renewable energy development, with the resulting chance for extra income.
Agent Sam Tydeman of Smiths Gore expected the farm to generate considerable interest from local farmers as well as investors from further afield. “It would be a good place to start the basis of a new farm, and is a good opportunity for an arable operator to expand,” he said. “But it is also a decent block of land to invest in and there are a lot of good contractors in the area. There would be no shortage of potential tenants.”
The land was let on a Farm Business Tenancy for more than £100/acre, but would be sold with vacant possession from August onwards. “The vendors see it as an opportunity to reinvest elsewhere on the estate,” said Mr Tydeman.
“The current interest for large blocks of quality arable land and the potential for renewable energy development mean that the property will be marketed as a whole. The opportunity for extra income through a renewable energy scheme without any significant adverse impact on the farm operation appears to be extremely attractive, but is dependent on concluding negotiations with a developer and planning permission being obtained.”
Smiths Gore was offering the farm before completion of the option agreement, to give maximum flexibility for future occupiers.
The land has good access from public highways and internal farm tracks, with generally large enclosures bounded by mature hedges or drainage ditches. There are various areas of amenity woodland, and the grainstore features a ventilated floor, surrounded by an area of hardstanding.
Manor Farm is on the market at £3.6m.