“Major investment opportunity” as 1000-acre farm hits the market

Chrishall Grange Farm “has been managed and maintained to an excellent standard by the current tenant, combining a particular focus on environmental schemes with mixed use commercial farming enterprises”.

The farm, which is on the market with Cheffins, has a guide price of £6.5 million. It was purchased in 1972 by farmer Frank Litchfield, who occupied it until 2000. It is now being sold on behalf of the Frank Litchfield Charitable Trust, which was established in the early 90s with the sole purpose of making charitable donations.

The farm is currently let on a long-term Farm Business Tenancy and is situated in an accessible location just south of the A505 Duxford-Royston Road, six miles northeast of Royston and 11 miles south of Cambridge.

The 1,043 acres of land is classified as predominantly Grade 2 with some Grade 3 and is of mixed soil types. There is also extensive woodland, including the Chrishall Grange Plantation, which is 42 acres of matured mixed species.

The modern farm buildings include two grain stores, a workshop, a machinery store, two further general-purpose buildings and a range of timber framed barns.

In addition, there is a series of buildings which were previously the site of a World War 2 camp, with the picket post/guard room, USAAF combined mess, kitchen, air raid shelters and boiler rooms all still intact. The camp was built by the USAAF when stationed at RAF Duxford, and used for accommodation, before being turned into a German working Prisoner of War camp.

Also included within the sale are two Victorian cottages, one with two bedrooms and one with three bedrooms. The Grange Farmhouse, a four-bedroom 1970s single storey property, is available by separate negotiation and is subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition.

The modern farm buildings include two grain stores, a workshop, a machinery store, two further general-purpose buildings and a range of timber framed barns.

Simon Gooderham, joint managing partner at Cheffins comments: “We have seen a significant uplift in the number of investors looking to purchase agricultural land as it continues to outperform other more traditional asset classes, particularly within this inflationary environment.

“With global food supplies down and prices on the rise, coupled with the fluctuations seen throughout other more typical investment vehicles, farmland continues to offer a solid investment.”

He said  Chrishall Grange Farm offers a “fantastic investment opportunity” and is one of the largest farms to have come to the market in East Anglia within the past year. “It has been managed and maintained to an excellent standard by the current tenant, combining a particular focus on environmental schemes with mixed use commercial farming enterprises.”

With the farmland market currently strong the trustees consider it a “sensible time” to realise the capital value from the sale of the farm, reinvesting the proceeds into other investments, Mr Gooderham added.

“The property is potentially eligible for inheritance tax relief as well as providing a secure rental income. It will appeal to private inheritance tax investors as well as institutional buyers and investment funds looking for a long-term holding. Demand is currently strong for both vacant and let farms, with vacant possession premiums being squeezed.”

The current Farm Business Tenancy has an initial term of 35 years for the period 28^th December 2000 to the 30^th September 2036, with succession rights.

For further information, contact the Cheffins Rural Professionals Department on 01223 213777 – camb.agric@cheffins.co.uk