Land for sale

The sale of Seaham Grange Farm provides a rare investment opportunity to acquire an operational farm with development potential extending in total to approximately 85.20 Ha (210.52 Ac).


Lot 1: Dalton House & Agricultural Building Dalton House is an impressive detached three-bedroom family home with stunning panoramic coastal views and a modern agricultural building with 50 kWh solar array, extending to approximately 1.24 Ha (3.06 Ac).

£500,000

Lot 2: Agricultural Land & Woodland

Bare land currently farmed under a Contract Farming Agreement, extending to approximately 83.96 Ha (207.46 Ac) and a small block of broadleaved Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland named Ryhope Dene.

£1,400,000

For sale by private treaty as a whole or in up to two lots.

SITUATION

The coastal town of Seaham benefits from a variety of attractions including coastal footpaths and picturesque beaches, such as Nose’s Point and Blast Beach.
Further attractions include Seaham Hall and Dalton Shopping Park which are located nearby. The Durham Coast railway provides excellent commuting facilities to Durham, Newcastle and wider networks.

The property benefits from five access points as depicted by the arrows shown on the site plan included within these particulars. Four of these access points are located off Stockton Road (the B1285 public highway) and one is located off Lord Byron’s Walk at the southern end of the property.

DESCRIPTION

Seaham Grange Farm extends to approximately 85.20 Ha (210.52 Ac) and is an operational arable farm with development potential. Included in the sale is Dalton House, a modern agricultural building (Lot 1) and bare agricultural land (Lot 2).

Seaham Grange Farm is offered for sale subject to an Option Agreement as summarised in the Planning and Development section of these sale particulars.

The purchasers of Seaham Grange could have the flexibility to farm in-hand, under a Contract Farming Agreement or by renting the land to a third-party.

LOT 1
DALTON HOUSE & AGRICULTURAL BUILDING

Dalton House is an impressive detached family home with stunning panoramic countryside and coastal views.

The ground floor accommodation comprises living room, kitchen / family room, separate dining room, utility room, office and WC. To the first floor, the master bedroom enjoys panoramic sea views and is serviced by en-suite facilities which comprise a four-piece suite and a separate dressing room. The second and third bedrooms are also generous doubles and both benefit from en-suite facilities.

Externally, Dalton House benefits from a detached double garage, ample off road parking, and extensive lawned gardens.

The property is subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition and an Assured Shorthold Tenancy which commenced on 9th October 2017. The fixed term expired on 8th April 2018 and as such the Tenancy is now on a periodic basis.
Please contact the agent for further information.
The EPC rating of the property is C.

As per the enclosed sale plan, a small area of Lot 1 is included in the Option Area. Full details relating to the Option are included in the Planning and Development section of these particulars.

MODERN AGRICULTURAL BUILDING

Situated separately and to the north of Dalton House is a steel portal frame building, extending to 680 square metres (7,317 square feet) nett.

The building is home to a commercial array of solar photovoltaic cells (50 kWh) and has three-phase electricity connection. The building is suitable for grain storage and internally includes an Alvan Blanch continuous duo-flow grain dryer (8t/hour) with grain pit which available by separate negotiation.

External fixtures comprise a 5,000lts gravity fed diesel tank for grain drier, and a 5,000lts fuel master diesel tank for refuelling of machinery.

Portable timber stables are located to the rear of the building and comprise two loose boxes and a tack room.

The above fixtures and fittings, and stables are excluded from the sale and are available by separate negotiation.

This agricultural building could be suitable for alternative uses, subject to gaining the necessary planning consent.

LOT 2
AGRICULTURAL LAND & WOODLAND

Lot 2 comprises a block of agricultural land extending approximately to 83.96 Ha (207.46 Ac). The land supports arable farming activities, as well as an element of environmental stewardship via a Higher Level Stewardship Agreement and woodland. The Land comprises predominantly arable land, with one field of permanent grassland and a belt of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland along the northern perimeter.

The arable land at Seaham Grange Farm is classified as Grade 3 sandy clay loam by DEFRA. The Durham Coast Railway Line runs along the eastern border of the property.

Lot 2 includes the majority of the area included in the Option Agreement as per the plan in the Planning and Development pages of these particulars.

The Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland extends to approximately 3.35 Ha (8.28 Ac) and is designated as part of Ryhope Dene Local Wildlife Site. Ryhope Dene is a characteristic woodland in the area, being predominantly Ash, Elm and Sycamore tree species. The woodland is included in a Woodland Management Plan which divides the woodland in to four manageable compartments.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

The County Durham Plan was adopted in October 2020. The site is not allocated in the plan and is located within the Green Belt. However, there is a requirement to keep housing delivery under review. Given the Government’s drive to encourage new house building, it is likely that new allocations for housing will need to be sought and there will be further opportunities to promote this site as a location for sustainable development. The site is located on the fringe of the urban area with excellent access to employment, shops, services, facilities and transport routes.

OPTION AGREEMENT

Approximately 29.03 Ha (71.72 Ac) of the Land is under an Option Agreement. Interested parties will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement to receive further information on the Option Agreement, signed in December 2017, for 3 periods totalling 15 years. Once planning permission is secured, the Option land may be purchased by the Developer at 80% of the Market Value, subject to a minimum price of £200,000 per acre.

CLAWBACK

Part A
On the enclosed plan, the property for sale identified as Part A extends to approximately 42.5 Ha (105 Ac).

Part A is sold subject to a clawback of 65% of any uplift in value from agricultural use for 50 years from the date of completion.

Part B
The property for sale identified as Part B extends to approximately 42.5 Ha (105 Ac).

Part B is sold subject to a clawback of 50% of any uplift in value from agricultural use for 50 years from the date of completion.

The coastal town of Seaham benefits from a variety of attractions including coastal footpaths and picturesque beaches, such as Nose’s Point and Blast Beach. Further attractions include Seaham Hall and Dalton Shopping Park which are located nearby. The Durham Coast railway provides excellent commuting facilities to Durham, Newcastle and wider networks.

Marketed by: George F White, Barnard Castle