Land for sale

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This rarely available Grade 1 arable farm comes to the market for the first time since the 1940's and offers a unique opportunity to purchase a highly maintained and productive Grade I arable farm within easy reach of major road networks. The farm has benefited from a high level of investment by the current owners and includes extensive land drainage schemes with sympathetic cropping rotations and a high level of attention to detail. The farm offers extensive non-agricultural farming income through the five let properties and commercial lettings. The farm also benefits from a substantial storage facility located to the west of the holding and offers future development potential subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents.

LOCATION AND SITUATION

Flanders and Peacocks farms lie within the county of Cambridgeshire close to the Suffolk border whilst Grosvenor House Farm lies within the county of Suffolk, all within close proximity to the village of Littleport with the holding benefitting from good access to the A10.

The village of Littleport lies approximately 6 miles north east of Ely. Littleport is an attractive Fenland village, with a good range of local services including shops, leisure facilities, pre-school, primary school and medical centre, whilst nearby Ely offers a wide range of shopping and leisure facilities, secondary schools, higher education facilities and the Ely Cathedral.

The nearest train station is Ely which offers a direct line service into London in approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to London Kings Cross.

LOT 1 - FLANDERS & PEACOCKS FARMS

Flanders Farm & Peacocks Farm occupy a large ringfenced area extending to 205.71 hectares (508.31 acres).

The soils are typical humic-alluvial gley soils of the Downholland 1 series and are identified on the Land Classification Maps as being Grade I. The farm comprises 13 fields with an average field size of 15.49 Hectares (38.27 acres).

The land has been exceptionally well-maintained benefitting from an extensive and well-maintained land drainage system together with a sympathetic cropping rotation.

The land benefits from hard tracks to most of the land providing good access to all enclosures with road frontage to the A1101 Mildenhall Road.

Field TL6385 6522 is identified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is under arable rotation.

The land is suitable for combinable cropping together with field vegetables, potatoes and sugar-beet. The land is subject to seasonal cropping licences for the growing of Lettuce and Potatoes.

FLANDERS FARM PREMISES

The premises at Flanders Farm comprise:

Building A - 4 bay steel portal framed building with internal store and mezzanine under a corrugated cement sheet roof with a single roller shutter door, personnel door and concrete floor - 13m x 19m (247 m2).

Building B - Brick built former livestock building under an asbestos roof with opening to both ends and concrete floor - 15m x 17m (255 m2).

Building C - a range of former cattle and stable yards of a concrete construction under an asbestos roof with earth and concrete floors, part open fronted and part enclosed. Part of this range of buildings is currently let under a commercial lease at £1,300 per quarter. Part of the building benefits from Class R consent.

Building D - Brick built farm office - 5.8m x 12m (69.60 m2).

The farm premises benefits from concrete access to yard areas.

LOTS 2 & 3 - FLANDERS FARM COTTAGES

1 Flanders Farm Cottages, CB7 4SY

A brick and concrete tiled semi-detached cottage built in the 1930's.

The accommodation comprises 3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, utility and family bathroom.

The Property is let under a Rent Agricultural Act Tenancy agreement and is occupied by a former employee at a rental of £325 per calendar month.

2 Flanders Farm, CB7 4SY

A brick and concrete tiled semi-detached cottage built in the 1930's.

The accommodation comprises 3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, utility and family bathroom.

The Property is let under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy at a rental of £675 per calendar Month.

LOT 4 - PEACOCKS FARM PREMISES

The farm premises at Peacocks Farm comprise:

Building E - 6 bay steel framed Dutch barn under a corrugated tin roof with brick walling and corrugated tin cladding to two sides and earth floor - 27.50m x 7.60m (209 m2).

Building F - 3 bay open fronted general purpose concrete framed building under an asbestos cement sheet roof with cladding and block walling and concrete floor - 14m x 10m (140 m2).

Building G - Brick built former livestock building under asbestos roof, with brick walling and cladding, opening to both ends and a concrete floor - 32m x 9m (288 m2).

LOT 5 & 6 - 1 & 2 PEACOCKS FARM BUNGALOWS, CB7 4SX

1 Peacocks Farm Bungalows, CB7 4SX

A brick and concrete tiled semi-detached bungalow subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition built in the 1970's. The accommodation comprises 3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, utility and family bathroom, with working garages.

The Property is occupied under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement which commenced on 11th June 2019 at £960 per calendar month.

2 Peacocks Farm Bungalows, CB7 4SX

A brick and concrete tiled semi-detached bungalow subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition built in the 1970's.

The accommodation comprises 3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, utility and family bathroom, with working garages.

The Property is occupied under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement which commenced on 22nd June 2018 at a rental of £800 per calendar month.

LOT 7 - GROSVENOR FARM PREMISES AND LAND

A ringfenced Farm extending to 82.96 ha (204.99 acres) of Grade 1 arable land. The soils are detailed as typical humic-alluval ley soils of the Downholland 1 series and the farm is divided into 6 fields with an average field size of 13.40 hectares (33.13 acres).

The land has been exceptionally well maintained and benefits from an extensive and well-maintained land drainage system and sympathetic cropping rotation. The land is subject to seasonal/cropping licences.

The land benefits from a central concrete track leading to a complex of farm buildings.

The farm premises comprise a range of redundant farm buildings, offering approx 196m2, together with the following buildings:

Building H - 4 bay Dutch barn with lean to under an asbestos cement roof with earth floor - 14.5m x 18m (261 m2).

Building I - Brick built storage building under an asbestos roof with a single opening and personnel door with concrete floor. 12.8m x 13m (166 m2).

LOT 8 - THE CHALET, GROSVENOR HOUSE FARM, IP28 8EF

A detached brick and tiled detached dormer bungalow built in 1950's. The accommodation comprises 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, utility and ground floor bathroom. The property is currently let under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement at £500 per calendar month.

LOT 9 - FARM PREMISES- THE STORAGE YARD

Located to the west of Flanders farm extending to 1.00 hectares (2.47acres) comprising an extensive range of farm buildings and yard including:

Building J - 6 bay steel portal framed potato store with a central air tunnel with drive over drying floor two roller shutter doors, personnel door - 18m x 36m (648 m2) with 6m x 18m covered overhang.

Building K - 6 bay steel portal framed potato store with a central air tunnel with drive over drying floor two roller shutter doors, personnel door - 18m x 36m (648 m2) with 6m x 18m covered overhang.

Building L - 7 bay steel portal framed grain store with concrete floor, single roller shutter door - 18m x 42m (756 m2).

Building M - Single storey office building divided into two offices, with single personnel door - 8m x 8m (64m2).

Building N - Steel framed Nissen Hut insulated with corrugated tin cladding, double sliding doors and personnel door with concrete floor - 19m x 12m (228 m2). This building is currently let under a commercial lease at £400 per calendar month.

The site offers opportunities for further alternative uses subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents or alternatively offers a substantial produce storage complex.

GENERAL REMARKS AND STIPULATIONS

Method of Sale

The property is offered for sale by private treaty as a whole or in up to 9 lots.

Tenure

The farm is being sold with vacant possession on completion subject to all existing tenancy agreements, leases and cropping licences.

Holdover

The sellers will reserve the right to lift and load the current sugar beet crop until January 2021, a right for a farm machinery sale within Field TL6285 0639 and for loading of grain from building L until March 2021.

Ingoing Valuation

The buyer will be required to pay an additional sum for any cultivations and crops established after the 2021 harvest year.

Irrigation & Land Drainage

The land benefits from an extensive land drainage scheme which has been regularly maintained with all outfalls marked with posts, copies of the land drainage plans are available from the selling agent.

The holding has the benefit of a full abstraction licence (6/33/40/*S/0001) for spray irrigation from 1st March to 31st October inclusive for 109,145 cubic meters per year.

Cropping

The land is cropped under a combinable crop rotation with potatoes, sugar beet and field vegetables. Historic details of past cropping are available from the selling agent.

Basic Payment Scheme

The land is registered with the Rural Payments Agency for the purposes of claiming the Basic Payment Scheme. The seller will transfer the relevant number of entitlements to the buyer(s) with the seller retaining the 2021 claim. Details of the entitlements are available from the selling agent.

Cross Compliance

The buyer(s) will be required to indemnify the sellers for any non-compliance that results in the penalty or reduction of the seller's payment under the Basic Payment Scheme in relation to the 2021 claim.

Early Entry

Early entry onto the land may be available following exchange of contracts entirely at the purchaser's risk.

Statutory Designations

The land lies within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Field No TL6385 6522 is detailed as being a Site of Specialist Scientific Interest, known locally as Shippea Hill (Ref 1052232). Further details are available from the selling agent.

Wayleaves, Easements & Rights of Way

The property is being sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights including rights of way whether public or private, light, sport, drainage, water and electricity suppliers and other rights obligations, easements and quasi - easements and restrictive covenants and all existing and proposed wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cables, drains, water and gas or other pipes whether referred to in these particulars or not. In particular:

Field numbers, 0444, 3519, 7801 & 2482 are crossed by overhead power lines.

The farms are not crossed by any public rights of way.

Environmental Stewardship

The farm is not currently subject to any Environmental Stewardship Agreements. The farm was previously entered into an Entry Level Stewardship Agreement. It is considered the farm would be suitable for a new Countryside Stewardship Scheme Agreement.

Outgoings

Council Tax

1 Flanders Farm Bungalow - Council Tax (Band A) £1,142.30

2 Flanders Farm Bungalow - Council Tax (Band A) £1,142.30

1 Peacock Farm Bungalow - Council Tax (Band B) £1,332.68

2 Peacock Farm Bungalow - Council Tax (Band A) £1,142.30

The Chalet, Grosvenor House Farm - Council Tax (Band B) - £1,338.05

Business Rates

Unit 1 - Flanders Farm - £4,050

Unit 2 - Flanders Farm - £4,350

Office - Flanders Farm - £1,950

Drainage Rates

The land is subject to an Environment Agency general drainage charge

The land is subject to a Burnt Fen Internal Drainage Board charge for 2020/21 of £12,928.66 per annum.

On completion any drainage rate charges shall be apportioned between the Parties.

Energy Performance Certificates

1 Flanders Farm Bungalow - F

2 Flanders Farm Bungalow - E

1 Peacocks Farm Bungalow - E

2 Peacocks Farm Bungalow - E

The Chalet - E

Sporting Rights

The Sporting Rights are in hand and so far as they are owned are included in the sale of the property.

Timber and Minerals

The Timber and Mineral Rights are included in so far as they are owned.

Land Registry Titles

The farm is registered under the following Land Registry Titles:

CB227330 & CB305455 - Storage Yard

CB326379 - Flanders Farm

CB230491 & CB230490 - Peacocks Farm

SK206507 & SK197086 - Grosvenor House Farm

Town and Country Planning

The property notwithstanding any description contained within these particulars is sold subject to any development plan, tree preservation order, town and planning scheme, resolution or notice which may or may not come to be enforced and also subject to any statutory provisions or bylaws without any obligation on the part of the sellers to specify this. The property is sold with the benefit of all existing planning consents.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Should any sale of the farm or any rights attached become a chargeable supply for the purposes of VAT, such tax will be payable by the buyers in addition to the contract price.

Postcodes

Flanders Farm - CB7 4SY

Peacocks Farm - CB7 4SX

Grosvenor Farm - IP28 8EF

The Storage Yard - CB7 4SYx.

Health & Safety

Given the potential hazards we would ask that you be as vigilant as possible when making your inspection of the property for your own personal safety.

Viewing

The property can be viewed strictly by appointment only with the selling agent (Brown & Co).

Telephone number

01480 213811

Disputes

Should any disputes arise as to the boundaries or any matters relating to these particulars, or the interpretation thereof, the matter will be referred to an arbitrator to be appointed by the selling agent.

Plans and Areas

These are prepared as carefully as possible by reference to digital OS data and the Rural Land Registry. The plans are published for illustrative purposes only and although they are believed to be correct their accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Anti Money Laundering

In accordance with the most recent Anti Money Laundering legislation the purchaser will be required to provide proof of identity and an address to the selling agent once an offer has been submitted and accepted (subject to contract) prior to solicitors being instructed.

Fixture and Fittings

All fixtures and fittings are excluded from the sale unless specifically referred to in these particulars.

Covid 19

All viewings are to be undertaken in accordance with government guidelines.

Boundaries

The buyer(s) shall deem to have full knowledge of all boundaries and neither the seller nor the selling agents will be responsible for defining boundaries nor their ownership.

The boundary between Flanders Farm Yard & Flanders Farm House will be demarcated on completion and The Purchaser of Lot 1 is to erect a Post and 3 Rail Fence between Points A1-B1 within 3 months of completion.

The purchaser of Lot 5 shall erect a Post and 3 Rail Fence between Points C1-D1 within 3 months of completion. The seller will on completion arrange for the boundary to be pegged.

The purchaser of Lot 6 shall erect a Post and 3 Rail Fence between Points E1-F1 within 3 months of completion. The seller will on completion arrange for the boundary to be pegged.

Access

A right of way in respect of Lot 4 shall be granted over Lot 1 over the area shown hatched on the plan.

A right of way in respect of Lot 5 shall be granted over the area shown cross-hatched on the plan.

Information Pack

An information pack is available from the selling agent.

Solicitors

Ashtons Legal - Jeanette Dennis

The Long Barn. Fornham Business Park

Fornham St Martin, Bury St Edmunds

IP31 1SL

T: 01223 431116

Useful Addresses

East Cambridgeshire District Council

The Grange

Nutholt Lane

Ely

CB7 4EE

T: 01353 665555

West Suffolk District Council

West Suffolk House

Western Way

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 3YU

T: 01284 763233

Burnt Fen Internal Drainage Board

Main Street

Prickwillow

Ely

CB7 4UN

T: 01353 688296

Environment Agency

Kingfisher House

Goldhay Way

Orton Goldhay

Peterborough

PE2 5ZR