Tough Time For Farm Disposals in the South West

An increasing number of planning rules and tough market conditions are making it harder than ever for West Country farmers who want to retire and sell up, land expert Chris Glover of CJH Land said today.

 

But there are still opportunities for a good return for farmers whose land is close to the region’s towns and cities.

 

Said Mr Glover: “Many farmers now find that different parts of the land they own have a different designation as far as local planners are concerned. Some may be developable as it is urban fringe, some may be in Green Belt and some may have to remain as agricultural land.

 

“It means that often a number of linked deals have to be put in place to be able to dispose of the farm with the maximum return. It is particularly noticeable in areas like South Gloucestershire and North Somerset where the farming community sits side by side with the towns and with Bristol itself and there are many demands on land use.

 

“When the property market was booming there were many investors, speculators and house builders ready and willing to buy up farm land and then develop what they could.

 

“Today sees fewer developers in the market and those that are active want land that already has a planning permission or a clear route to getting a return on their investment.”

 

Mount Pleasant Farm near Longwell Green, Bristol has been sold through CJH Land in a deal that completed earlier this year. Most of the 80 acre farm is within the Green Belt.

 

CJH Land sold the farm to a Housing Association, which plans to build 70 homes on the developable part of the farm, subject to planning permission.

 

Said Mr Glover: “The farmer is now able to retire in the knowledge that he has got the best return and without having to worry about doing multiple deals on the land.

 

“The current market conditions mean you have to be quite creative over selling farmland and look at the way the planning restrictions work. We believe there is always a solution for those who want to dispose of land.”

 

CJH Land, based in Flax Bourton, near Bristol, act for landowners throughout the South West region see www.cjhland.co.uk.