What's the downside of owning a field?

[Onliest Smeg David]

There is a reform of CAP subsidies coming though. 2015 I think.

[dombanks]

Nice idea to buy the land next to you. If you do make sure you protect the access as travellers of allsorts like a bit flat ground to park their caravans, just locking the gate is not enough these days.

Good call. I remember the horse set going on about this with the ex. They used to just get a load of rubble type stuff put in the gateway.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Well chaps, I shall speak to the agent on Monday and see what sort of money they're expecting. That might put the kybosh on the whole idea - who knows? Thanks again to all for the input.

[alexander72]

MOTC0 - I would expect £10,000 to £20,000 per acre 

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

MOTC0 - I would expect £10,000 to £20,000 per acre 

Really! It's only 4.04 acres, it's sloping, there's a pylon on it, it's impenetrably overgrown, it's green belt (planners say there is zero chance of development as the law stands), it's in AONB, there's no services. I was going to start at £4k and be prepared for £5k per acre, no more. My reasoning is that it is too small to be worthwhile for farming, and it is separate from any other land owned by a farmer so he'd have to travel to it. If not sold 'off the page, as it were, beforehand, it is going to be offered as part of a larger lot - the other area is probably 3x this one, nearer level, and clear of any scrub and has been arable. It seemed to me that this plot (the 4 acres) would drag the value of the whole down per acre and would be far more likely to achieve a worthwhile sale value on its own. My plot is the only one adjoining it that would feasibly want it. Okay, I may be in cloud-cuckoo land ,and I am sure the agent will try for the sort of figure you suggest, but there's a limited market I suspect.

[alexander72]

we have 18 acres of grass, agric tie on planning, one road gate, all sloping, valued at £340,000 with barns on it - no residential potential... you may be right but in Northants - 4 acres would go for £40k to £65k easily with a road frontage 

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Alexander, thanks for that!

 

I shall let you know what the agent says tomorrow, if I can get hold of him.

[alexander72]

good man - hope it's cheaper than our land 

[Wile E. Coyote]

Really! It's only 4.04 acres, it's sloping, there's a pylon on it, it's impenetrably overgrown, it's green belt (planners say there is zero chance of development as the law stands), it's in AONB, there's no services. I was going to start at £4k and be prepared for £5k per acre, no more. My reasoning is that it is too small to be worthwhile for farming, and it is separate from any other land owned by a farmer so he'd have to travel to it. 

 

Small parcels of amenity woodland often go for more than that... and AONB would be very attractive to a lot of people, especially if there was some way to get water onsite.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Well the agent is starting at £15k/acre 

 

I said that whilst i am interested in buying in principle, it would have to be a hell of a lot cheaper than that! The agent is already offering more desirable land (flat and pasture) for £10/acre or even a tad less. 

[alexander72]

I should be a land agent.....

[sweet orange]

Well the agent is starting at £15k/acre 

 

I said that whilst i am interested in buying in principle, it would have to be a hell of a lot cheaper than that! The agent is already offering more desirable land (flat and pasture) for £10/acre or even a tad less. 

The chance to buy land right next to you may only come once in a lifetime. In my experience, land and houses always seem too expensive at the time, but in five years time you will be kicking yourself if you didn't buy it.

[robo1968]

Don't like fields to the north, don't like ones to the south either, ones on the east aren't much to shout about but the ones on the west - like those!

Edited to add - don't like north-fields, don't like south-fields, don't like east-fields but do like 'west'-fields

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

It's to the north. And at the price they seem to expect it will remain in the north and in the ownership of someone else! I understand and agree with "...you won't regret it..." but there's a limit to how much one can shell out!