Sizable lettings have come on the market in Cornwall, Somerset and Devon through land agent Carter Jonas.
Cornwall Council is offering a Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) of up to 20 years for Trenarry Farm in Truro, while Somerset Council is inviting tenders for two blocks of arable and pasture land.
An additional 83ac block of pasture near Sidmouth, Devon is also on the market.
Dairy tenancy
Trenarry Farm is 221ac and is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to extend their business, or a new entrant looking to start their own business.
“A 20-year tenancy doesn’t come up very often, so this is a really exciting prospect for someone looking to take the next step in their farming career,” said Chris Anderson, partner at Carter Jonas.
“It would make a great starter dairy farm, and it has some very interesting features, such as an on-farm methane collection system.”
The council has invested in slurry storage and is stipulating that the farm must continue to be used primarily for dairy production. The slurry is used as a feedstock for an on-farm biogas plant, let to Bennaman.
Most of the land is pasture, with a 43ac block of woodland designated as a County Wildlife Site.
“There is an area of species rich grassland too, and it is a requirement of the landlord that this is managed in a manner which protects it, by controlling scrub, keeping it grazed and not fertilising it,” adds Chris.
The successful tenant will also gain living accommodation in a Cornish stone, six-bedroom farmhouse which will undergo refurbishment before the tenancy starts.
Somerset FBTs
The two FBTs in Somerset comprise 127ac of pasture at Leaze and Selwood Farms in Lympsham, with 85ac of arable land available at Shave Farm in Horton.
Both are available as a whole, or in two lots, with Leave and Selwood split into 103ac across eight fields and 24ac across two enclosures.
Shave Farm is also split into two lots, with a two-year FBT on the land.
The Taunton Carter Jonas office will also handle bids for 83ac of pasture near Sidmouth, available in up to three lots by informal tender.