Lack of land (From Smallholder)

Lack of land

12:30pm Friday 23rd January 2009

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Whilst land prices may have reached a plateau and eased in some cases following a period of growth over the past two years, sensibly-priced farms and land continue to find purchasers through the ongoing economic slowdown.

Lack of supply of available farm land coupled with land being seen as a relatively secure investment at present when compared with stocks and shares have led to continued demand from both farming and investment purchasers.

An interesting opportunity has arisen to purchase a farm, in the making in the Blackdown Hills, east Devon. Golden Farm is a recently established smallholding on which the present owners have worked to develop an alpaca breeding enterprise during their short period of ownership, having purchased the eight acres of land through Stags in 2007.

The farm building has been adapted and extended to accommodate a stock handling / shearing area, a useful covered space for machinery storage, a shower and w.c and the farm office, which is fully enclosed with a kitchen area and all services connected.

The land has been subdivided by post and rail fencing into ten grazing paddocks, with a number of timber field shelters providing cover for the animals. Interlinking gates and tracks ease stock movement and assist the control of grazing.

The present owners were successful in gaining planning consent for a temporary agricultural workers mobile home for a period of five years (four left to run), providing the opportunity to develop the alpaca farm further which the present owners are unable to do due to health reasons. At the end of the five years, should the farm be fully established, sustainable and financially viable for the foreseeable future, there is a chance to apply for planning consent for an agricultural workers dwelling.

The alpaca stock and machinery required for the daily running of the farm will form part of the sale which will allow a new owner to continue to develop the alpaca enterprise, which at present is a growing sector.

The farm is offered for sale through Stags Exeter with offers in excess of £200,000 being sought.