Op1660 farms and land annual report

FARMS & LAND

Land at Walterstone, Herefordshire

Land at Pentreclwydau Farm, Neath, South Wales

The Brooms Land at Walterstone consisted of 32.15 acres of productive pastureland and a small area of amenity woodland.

The land is situated on the borders of Herefordshire and Monmouthshire and sold well above its guide of £190,000 in late 2014.

60 acres of high quality pastureland, offered as a whole or in four lots, which gave a wide variety of potential. An extremely attractive level block, running alongside the Neath canal. Sold subject to contract with a guide price of £530,000

Residential Development Land Brightwells offer valuation advice for development sites, primarily between landowner and developer. We have long standing relationships with many of the leading housing developers, which this year has led to a number of sites being sold to their maximum potential through the firm. At Brightwells we can offer the service of selling and marketing development land, ranging from small sites to larger residential led developments and strategic projects. Our expertise and knowledge is invaluable in these matters as gaining planning, engaging with developers, getting the correct taxation advice and advice of funding are complex and at Brightwells we want to fully realise the potential of your land and unlock its value.

The use of Option agreements are another valuable method of maximizing building land, where our experience and knowledge are readily available.

The Sale of two development sites, Gypsy Castle Lane (80 houses) and Land at Credenhill (9 houses) demonstrates how we can maximise larger and smaller sites, marketing to both the larger scale housing developer and to the local builder. We have a very good relationship with a number of different scale developers and utilise our contacts for the benefit of our clients.

Red Lion Abattoir, South Heath, Nantwich, Cheshire Former abattoir site with development opportunity extending to 1.52 acres including buildings, yard and land. Attracting good interest and sold subject to contract well over the guide price of £195,000

Farm dispersal sales The firm has been busy this year with a number of farm dispersal sales, attracting many vendors and buyers alike. The auctioneering team have been very busy, working very hard and driving the sales forward making some good returns for clients.

Meet the Team

During the course of 2014 Brightwells conducted six on farm dispersal sales on behalf of various valued customers retiring from farming. Sales were conducted as far north as Burwarton, Near Bridgnorth in Shropshire and as far East as Worcester.

At Great Leasowes Farm, Cleobury North, Shropshire around 350 Lots were sold including 2 modern tractors, Matbro, farm machinery and around 320 sheep. Leading prices included 2003 Deutz Fahr Agroplus 95 with loader at £13,800, 2004 Deutz Fahr Agroplus 100 Tractor at £13,400.

Most surprising was the scrap heap which made £1,350.

At Maples Cross Farm, Cotheridge Worcester around 240 Lots were sold including 2 tractors and a range of modern grassland equipment. Leading prices included 1984 Massey Ferguson 698 4wd at £5,600, Massey Ferguson 590 2wd with loader at £3,900. Welgar small baler at £3,000, Kuhn rake at £2,600 and Opico grass harrows at £2,250.

Hereford Office

Greg Christopher BSc (Hons) Graduate Surveyor and Auctioneer T: 01568 611166 E: greg.christopher@brightwells.com

Leominster Office

Jeremy Jehan MRICS FLAA Head of Professional Services M: 07974 193667 E: jeremy.jehan@brightwells.com

James McIntyre BSc MRICS FAAV - Rural Surveyor M: 07976 723141 E: james.mcintyre@brightwells.com

Brightwells conducted a successful autumn of dispersal sales in South Herefordshire. Dispersal sales are proving to be a rare occurrence, however the sales Brightwells have conducted have both been rewarding, with large attendances and premium prices being achieved. Both sales have featured genuine machinery some quite dated however, all sales proved that well maintained machinery is still Hughley desirable from both farmers and machinery traders.

The final sale of the year was on a first Saturday in December a date proving to be quite successful as many famers have received their Single payments at the beginning of the month.

On offer was some modern, well maintained and serviced machinery, fodder and sheep dogs, the later producing huge enquiries from Sussex to the West Wales coastline. The sale outcome was some fantastic prices being achieved with tractors, cultivation equipment and livestock equipment all creating huge interest.

There really is no better way when retiring or ceasing farming to hold a dispersal sale on the farm. With proper marketing and organisation a pleasing result will always follow.

Annual Report 2014 Hereford Cathedral Chambers, Broad Street, Hereford, HR4 9AS T: 01432 261325

Leominster Easters Court, Leominster, Hereford, HR6 0DE T: 01568 611166

brightwells.com

Attractive Farm opportunity Land selling very well

A very good year for business Brightwells can once again confirm Herefordshire agricultural land values are continuing to stay resilient, having achieved a variety of sales, with small farms taking a strong position.

Residential (or ‘lifestyle’) demand has had a revival and a driving factor is farmland’s relatively favourable tax treatment and its perceived ‘safe haven’ status. However, the demand is out weighing the supply.

The low interest rates and the banks willingness to lend money has also favoured those who have made a purchase.

There are more encouraging signs for anyone looking to borrow, with the cost of finance lowering and bank margins decreasing, in line with the availability of cheaper money.

Land at Tir Campstone, Abergavenny

A String of profitable Outcomes for smallholding sales

Red House Farm, Eaton Bishop, Nr Hereford The elegant Farmhouse known as Red House Farm is equipped with a home office, a number of very useful buildings, including a barn, stable block and all weather manage and set in the very convenient location of the village of Eaton Bishop, close to local amenities and the city of Hereford. Standing in 12 acres of level pastureland it sold for £700,000 in July 2014.

Merrings Farm, Bosbury, Nr Ledbury A very pretty, traditional Herefordshire farm in an outstanding setting. Situated close to the Market Town of Ledbury and benefitting from very good connections to the motorway network. Merrings Farm had the potential for improvement throughout the property and included a farmhouse, farm buildings and some 59 acres, its showed great potential and was a very unique find in today’s market place. Merrings Farm sold well in excess of the guide price of £1 million.

Land at Haywood, Nr Hereford

Lower Wormhill Farm, Eaton Bishop, Nr Hereford Lower Wormhill Farm is a grade 2 listed Farmhouse, with a self-contained annexe and a range of traditional outbuildings.

The Farmhouse is set in 3 acres of garden and grounds in the village of Eaton Bishop, a very accessible location in a rural situation. The property sold for £675,000 in July 2014.

A good sized block of 42.16 acres of productive pastureland and a small area of natural woodland, conveniently contained within a ring fence, with livestock loading facilities at the entrance and complete with planning permission for a new agricultural building. It was sold for around its guide price of £245,000.

An attractive area of level pastureland and amenity woodland together with a small range of buildings, comprising of 21.01 acres. At public Auction it was sold at £190,000.

Hill End Farm, Spond, Kington Herefordshire Council instructed Brightwells to sell one of their smallholdings in the Autumn of 2014, following the continued rationalization of their small holdings estate. There was great interest shown in Hill End Farm, which included a recently modernised detached two bedroom cottage, an extensive range of buildings, and some 8.67 acres of pasture land. It was sold by formal tender in two lots based on a guide price of £250,000.

Tump Hill, Clyro, Nr Hay on Wye A useful and productive 37.70 acres of productive upland pasture land known as Tump Hill (Caerneuadd Hill). It comprises four good sized enclosures with easy working contours and has the benefit of roadside frontages and a private water supply. It sold well over the guide price at auction for £230,000.

Broomy Green House, Checkley, Nr Hereford Little Blackhill Farm, Nr Longtown.

Nestling at the end of a no-through lane Little Blackhill Farm, occupies an outstanding location nestling near the Black Mountains. The small holding is set in award winning gardens and grounds, with an arboretum, a ¼ acre lake, standard orchard and with some 20 acres of pasture land, including a range of outbuildings. This gem of a small holding Sold for £695,000 in October 2014.

Broomy Green House, a wonderful country house and a much loved family home, was offered for sale for the first time in many years. It offered an all too rare an opportunity to live in one of Herefordshire most sought after areas. Checkley lies East of Hereford in unspoilt countryside, with stunning far reaching views, but benefitting from its close proximity to the City of Hereford. Set in landscaped gardens with a tennis court, stabling, woodland and land in all extending to 16 acres, including 2.5 acres of woodland. This property sold for £795,000 in October 2014.

Catson Farm, Little Dewchurch, Nr Hereford A Traditional Smallholding, set in an attractive 20.4 acres, within an idyllic rural setting adjacent to a quiet unclassified council road and only half a mile North of the popular village of Little Dewchurch. The land was laid to pasture, with the main block contained within a ring fence. Catson Farm sold for just under the guide price of £450,000.

Paytoe Lane Land, Leintwardine Green, Leintwardine The Land comprised of 16.6 acres and was divided into five enclosures. A level block of pastureland in a ring fence with natural water, sold well above its guide price of £95,000.