LAND AT FIRSFIELD FARM SUFFOLK

A chance to purchase a ring-fenced block of productive arable land with the opportunity for significant poultry investment 353.71 acres (143.15 hectares)

Summary ● 346.45 acres (140.21 hectares) Grade 3 arable land ● Traditional former livestock buildings and modern straw

barn ● Farmhouse and paddocks extending to 5.57 acres (2.25

hectares) available by separate negotiation ● Thetford – 7.7 miles; Bury St Edmunds 12.4 miles;

Norwich 37.5 miles (all distances are approximate)

For sale by Private Treaty

Enquiries James Brooke 07881 516564 james.brooke@bidwells.co.uk

Matthew Alexander 07918 561606 matthew.alexander@bidwells.co.uk

bidwells.co.uk

LAND AT FIRSFIELD FARM BARDWELL SUFFOLK

Introduction Firsfield Farm offers the opportunity to acquire a productive area of farmland comprising predominantly Grade 3 arable land and a range of farm buildings, with the additional opportunity for poultry investment.

The land extends to approximately 353.71 acres (143.15 hectares) and the range of modern and traditional farm buildings are centrally located, accessed by a track onto the public highway.

The land benefits from an Environmental Permit and positive pre-application response for the erection of six poultry sheds.

A farmhouse and approximately five acres of paddocks are available by separate negotiation.

The land has been farmed in hand or with seasonal cropping licences for a range of crops such a potatoes, onions, maize and carrots.

Situation and Access Land at Firsfield Farm is situated north of the village of Bardwell and south of the village of Euston in West Suffolk. The property can be accessed by a private track from Spring Road, 2.28 miles from the A143 Bury Road.

The principal towns nearby are Thetford to the north (approximately 7.7 miles), Bury St Edmunds to the south (approximately 12.4 miles) and Norwich to the east via the A11 (approximately 37.5 miles).

The nearest rail station is in the village of Thurston offering rail services to Cambridge, Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street.

The Buildings The range of traditional buildings historically formed part of the livestock enterprise with the smaller buildings to the rear used as kennels. There is a modern steel portal framed building, used as a straw barn, to the east of the yard suitable for modern agricultural use.

The Land The land is in a ring-fenced block totalling an area of 346.45 acres (140.21 hectares).

It is classified as mainly Grade 3 according to the former MAFF Land Classification Series and is identified by the Cranfield Soil and Agrifood Institute’s Soilscapes as a mix

of freely draining sandy Breckland soils, and slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils.

The land has been subject to an Entry Level and Higher-Level Stewardship Scheme which expires on 30 September 2020. Maize, carrots and onions are being grown this year on an annual cropping licence. The vendor will require Holdover until 31 October 2020 for these crops to be harvested. Previous cropping is shown in the table below:

FIELD 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

Brick Hill (1) Winter Barley Sugar Beet Maize Maize Winter Wheat

Gospel Hill (2) Winter Barley Sugar Beet Potatoes Maize Winter Wheat

Timson (3) Winter Wheat Sugar Beet Winter Barley Winter Barley Onions

Ninteen Acres (4) Maize Winter Wheat Winter Wheat Onions Potatoes

Triangle (5) Nectar flower & wild bird (HLS)

Nectar flower & wild bird (HLS)

Nectar flower & wild bird (HLS)

Nectar flower & wild bird (HLS)

Nectar flower & wild bird (HLS)

Farmhouse Field (9) Carrots Winter Barley Winter Barley Potatoes Onions

Flats (10) Onions Winter Barley Winter Barley Potatoes Onions

Formans Break (11) Winter Wheat Rye Onions Potatoes Rye

Lottment Break (12) Winter Barley Onions Sugar Beet Potatoes Winter Wheat

Corney Close (13) Carrots Rye Potatoes Winter Barley Onions

Charlie Beans (14) Onions & Wheat

Maize Potatoes & Wheat

Winter Wheat Maize

Firsfield Farmhouse The farmhouse is a three-bedroom house, situated to the west of the farm, with its own private driveway from Spring Road. The farmhouse has been let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement but will be sold with vacant possession.

The house extends to approximately 1,575 sq ft (146 sq m), the configuration is shown by the floor plan below. The property comprises two reception rooms, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The property benefits from a large kitchen / dining area, utility room, an enclosed garden, double garage and approximately five acres of paddocks. The farmhouse is available by separate negotiation.

The Energy Performance Rating for Firsfield Farmhouse is a D and the property is located within West Suffolk’s Council Tax band F

Ground Floor First Floor

Town and Country Planning Firsfield Farm is located within the countryside in the West Suffolk local plan, identified by CS1 and the proposals map.

Positive pre-application advice has been obtained from West Suffolk Council for the erection of six poultry rearing sheds with associated infrastructure for 300,000 birds. A copy of this is available in the Data Room. An Environmental Permit for this development has been granted by the Environment Agency.

The modern agricultural building was built following a successful Permitted Agricultural Development application in 2009 under the planning reference SE/09/0634.

Services Firsfield Farm Buildings: mains electricity and connection to a bore hole.

Firsfield Farmhouse mains electricity, borehole water and private drainage. Firsfield Farmhouse is heated by oil-fired AGA and central heating.

Tenure and Possession The freehold is offered for sale with vacant possession on completion.

Method of Sale The freehold interest of the farm is offered for sale by Private Treaty. Freehold of the farmhouse is only offered for sale upon specific request of the Purchaser.

Environmental Designations The land is within the Ely Ouse and Cut-off channel Nitrate Vulnerable Zone and is located within a Source Protection Zone. The farm is also within the SSSI impact Risk Zone for SSSI Fakenham Wood, Euston and Sapiston Great Grove.

Wayleaves, Easements and Rights of Way The land is to be sold subject to all existing rights of way, public or private, light support, drainage, water and electricity supplies and all other rights and obligations, easements, quasi easements and all wayleaves whether referred to or not in the particulars.

The Purchaser(s) will be deemed to have full knowledge and satisfied themselves as to the provisions of any such matters affecting the property.

Basic Payment Scheme The land is registered with the Rural Payments Agency and entitlements to the Basic Payment Scheme will be included in the sale for the 2021 claim year onwards. The vendor will retain entitlement to the Basic Payment for the 2020 claim year. The purchaser will indemnify the vendors against non-compliance from the date of completion until the 2021 claim.

Drainage Drainage plans for the land are available within the Data Room.

Data Room For further information about Firsfield Farm please request access to the Data Room from the selling agent.

Value Added Tax Any guide price quoted or discussed is exclusive of VAT. Should any sale of the farm, as a whole or in lots, or any right attached to it become a chargeable supply for the purpose of VAT, such tax will be payable by the purchaser in addition to the contract price.

Timber, Sporting and Mineral Rights These are included in the sale in so far as they are owned. Sporting Rights will be reserved to 2 February 2021.

Early Entry Early entry may be permitted onto fields that have been harvested at the Purchaser’s own risk following exchange of contracts.

Farm Contracting The Vendors would be interested in discussing with Purchasers the opportunity to continue farming the land as a Contractor. Alternatively, renting the land back from the Purchasers under a Farm Business Tenancy (rent to be agreed).

Ingoing Valuation In addition to the purchase price, the Purchaser may be required to pay for growing crops and all beneficial cultivations, sub-soiling, moleing and acts of husbandry since the last harvest at current CAAV rates or contractor rates, where applicable. Seeds, fertilisers, manures and sprays apply to the growing crops since the last harvest at invoice cost. All seeds, sprays, fertilisers, fuel or other consumables in store, if appropriate, are at invoice cost. Lime and chalk applied since the last harvest is at invoice cost and the cost of applying at invoice cost.

If a sale is agreed which completes after 1 April, an enhancement figure of £30 per acre per month will be applied from the date of establishment of those crops through to completion.

Postcode The nearest residential postcode is IP31 1BB.

Viewings The land can be viewed from Spring Road.

Please arrange viewings by calling Bidwells Rural Agency on 01223 559352.

Important Notice Bidwells LLP act for themselves and for the vendors of this property, whose agents they are, give notice that: Nothing contained in these particulars or their contents or actions, both verbally or in writing, by Bidwells LLP form any offer or contract, liability or implied obligation to any applicants, viewing parties or prospective purchasers of the property to the fullest extent permitted by law and should not be relied upon as statements or representative of fact. No person in the employment of Bidwells LLP or any joint agents has authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatever in relation to this property. Any areas of measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only, may not be to scale and are not necessarily comprehensive. No assumptions should be made that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents. Bidwells LLP has not carried out a survey, nor tested the services, appliances or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise. All rentals and prices are quoted exclusive of VAT unless otherwise stated. Prospective purchasers may be asked to produce identification of the intended Purchaser and other documentation in order to support any conditional offers submitted to the vendors. Bidwells LLP accepts no liability of any type arising from your delay or other lack of co-operation. We may hold your name on our database unless you instruct us otherwise. OS licence no. ES 100017734. © Copyright Bidwells LLP 2017. Bidwells LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (registered number OC 344553). Registered office is Bidwell House, Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 9LD where a list of members is available for inspection. Your statutory rights are not affected by this notice

01223 559352 bidwells.co.uk

Additional Information

Local Authority West Suffolk Council, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU

Boundaries The Vendors and the Vendors’ agent will do their best to specify the ownership of boundary hedges, fences and ditches but will not be bound to determine these. The Purchasers will have to satisfy themselves as to the ownership of any boundaries.

Plans, Areas and Schedules Plans attached to the particulars are based upon the Ordnance Survey National Grid and are for reference only. The purchasers will be deemed to have satisfied themselves of the property as scheduled. Anti-Money Laundering In accordance with the most recent Anti-Money Laundering Legislation, purchaser(s) will be required to provide proof of identity to the vendors’ agents once an offer is submitted and prior to solicitors being instructed.

Health and Safety Given the potential hazards of a working farm and its associated machinery we would ask you to be as vigilant as possible for your own safety when inspecting the property, particularly around the farm buildings. Please take notice of any signs on the buildings referring to their state of repair. Photographs, Fixtures and Fittings The photographs in these particulars were taken December 2019. Only those fixtures and fittings described in the sale details are included in the sale. Solicitors Mills and Reeve, 1 St James Court, Whitefriars, Norwich NR1 1RU