Farm, farmland sales top £20 million this year

Halls, one of the UK’s leading regional firms of estate agents, chartered surveyors, auctioneers and valuers, has made a record start to 2024 by completing farm and farmland sales exceeding £20 million in the first six months.

Fifteen farms and blocks of land are currently on the market with the company and another 20 are in the pipeline, raising hopes of a bumper year for sales in a buoyant market.

Halls, which has its headquarters at Battlefield, Shrewsbury, has nine offices covering Shropshire, Worcestershire, Powys and bordering counties.

Louise Preece, head of rural professional services at Halls, said most of the farms sold in Shropshire have been purchased by farmers living within the county, whilst some blocks of farmland and woodland have attracted investors.

Such is the demand that Halls has this week agreed a sale for a small farm in North Shropshire within three days of it being marketed. Another small farm in the south of the county attracted a viewing and offer the day after it had been placed on the market.

“We are seeing a good level of interest in a variety of rural properties across our region,” said Louise. “In the last two months alone, we have agreed the sale of 17 farms and blocks of farmland and woodland.

“Predominantly, the farms have sold to other farmers to expand their existing farming operations, whilst some woodland and small parcels of farmland have been purchased as investments.

“It has been a very busy spring and the demand shows no sign of slowing down, which is very encouraging for us and for owners wishing to sell their farms and farmland.”

The record start to 2024 follows a tremendous end to last year when Halls sold four farms and blocks of farmland with a guide price of more than £9 million, in December.

In addition to farm sales, Halls also holds regular collective property and land auctions, which have generated strong demand for small blocks of pastureland, with prices approaching £25,000 an acre achieved.

The company’s next collective auction is on Friday, July 12, followed by others on Friday September 27 and Friday, November 22.

Enquiries about selling or buying farms or farmland should be directed to the rural agency and sales team, headed by Halls chairman Allen Gittins, director James Evans and Louise at Halls’ Battlefield head office in Shrewsbury on Tel: 01743 450700 and director Sarah Hulland at the Kidderminster office on Tel: 01562 820880.

PICTURE: Overfields Farm, Wem, which had a guide price of £1.35 million, one of the farms sold by Halls so far this year.