Flurry of farms to kick start the spring market

Following a record year in 2023 for its farms and land agency team, Hobbs Parker is delighted to be launching a number of farms in Kent and East Sussex to the market this spring.

In the High Weald, Hobbs Parker has been instructed on two farms.

Little Forsham Farm and Little Thornden Farm at Rolvenden is a 165-acre traditional grassland farm.  Little Forsham Farm comprises a detached, five-bedroom farmhouse with an agricultural occupancy condition (AOC), a useful range of modern farm buildings, stabling and pastureland extending to 57.5 acres. 

Nearby, Little Thornden Farm is a block of grassland with frontage to the Hexden Channel and includes a useful steel-framed barn.    The farms will be offered for sale as a whole, or in up to three lots, with a total guide price of £2,250,000 to £2,350,000.

Just down the road, Frenchurst Farm at Sandhurst is a productive livestock farm peacefully situated at the end of a ‘no through lane’ and comprises a detached bungalow (AOC), a range of livestock buildings and surrounding pastureland extending to about 60 acres.  The farm is offered at a guide price of £1,595,000.

Further north in Kent, Little Frognall Farm near Teynham represents a rare opportunity to purchase a 310-acre mixed arable and grass farm close to the Swale estuary.  The farm comprises a detached farmhouse and a separate two-bedroom bungalow (subject to AOCs), farm buildings which may offer potential for Class Q conversion and productive Grade I arable land and permanent pasture.   The land is subject to a farm business tenancy until 2032, although the tenant has indicated that he would consider an early termination of the tenancy.   The guide price is £3,350,000.

Closer to Ashford, we are currently offering two small residential farms.

Stone Hill Barn and land at Egerton, which includes 47 acres of pasture, is currently for sale at a guide price of £3,200,000.  It includes a substantial Grade II listed barn, separate cottage, large barn and barn stables.

Mayshaves Farm on the edge of Woodchurch, comprising an attractive Grade II listed farmhouse offered with 19 acres, has a guide price of £1,300,000.    

A number of other land sales are expected to be coming to the market soon, including a large block of mixed fruit and arable land in the Ashford area.

Hobbs Parker has recently agreed a sale on King Farm, Woodchurch, a traditional livestock farm with a Grade II listed farmhouse, buildings and pastureland extending in all to about 82 acres.  The guide price was £1,950,000.

In cases where a more discrete marketing service was preferred, we have agreed significant off-market sales on arable land in the Ashford area and in east Kent.

Looking ahead, demand for farmland remains high and there appears to be a significant amount of rollover money still looking for a home and increasing interest from natural capital markets. While some reports are suggesting that land prices may be levelling off, here in the South East the supply and demand imbalance means prices are holding firm.

With an election looming, all major parties have mentioned potential changes to tax, whether capital gains tax, agricultural property relief or business asset disposal relief. Political change is likely, and if this is the case changes to tax will be on the agenda even if they are just aimed at making tax simpler. 

This, together with the phasing out of basic payments, higher interest rates and margins being squeezed, could lead to more land coming to the market which could in turn have an impact on the values of farms and farmland.

Now could be a sensible time to sell. Taking specialist advice and targeting the correct market will be crucial to achieving a successful outcome. Please speak to us for confidential expert advice.