Consisting of over 1,000 acres of arable and pasture land, woodland, extensive farm buildings and two cottages, Chrishall Grange Farm is one of the largest agricultural investments to have hit the market in East Anglia. On the market with Cheffins, the farm is being sold on behalf of the Frank Litchfield Trust.
It is currently let on a long-term Farm Business Tenancy and is situated in an accessible location south of the A505 Duxford-Royston road, six miles northeast of Royston and eleven miles south of Cambridge.
The 1,043 acres are predominantly Grade 2, with some Grade 3, and are of mixed soil types. There is also woodland, including the Chrishall Grange Plantation which is 42 acres of matured mixed species.
Buildings include two grain stores, a workshop, a machinery store, two general-purpose buildings and a range of timber-framed barns. There is also a series of buildings which were previously part of a World War 2 camp, with the picket post/guard room, combined mess, kitchen, air raid shelters and boiler rooms all still intact.
Included in the sale are two Victorian cottages, one with two bedrooms and another with three. The Grange Farmhouse – a four-bedroom single-storey property – is available by separate negotiation and is subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition.
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.
“Chrishall Grange Farm represents 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.”
Frank Litchfield was a farmer who purchased the farm in 1972 and occupied it until 2000. The Trust was established by the Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust in the early 1990s with the sole purpose of making charitable donations.
Mr Gooderham continues: “With the current strength of the farmland market the Trustees now consider it to be a sensible time to realise the capital value from the sale of the farm and reinvest the sale proceeds into other investments to provide a more balanced portfolio.
“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 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 28th December 2000 to the 30th September 2036, with succession rights. The farm has a guide price of £6.5 million.