A highly versatile block of first-class arable land valued at £3.4 million has been put up for sale by Strutt and Parker in Faversham, Kent.
The 306 acres at the Lees Court Estate, stewarded by the pioneering farmer and entrepreneur The Countess Sondes, gives would-be buyers a rare opportunity to acquire Grade 1 land at a time when ground of such quality is seldom on offer – it is estimated that only about 3% of England is classed as Grade 1.
The land’s rotation has recently included echium – a purple-coloured crop used in the skincare, pharmaceutical and baby food sectors – which has delivered significant environmental benefits.
It represents the first time this land at Faversham, Kent, marketed by Strutt and Parker as a whole or in two lots for £3.4 million, has come to the market in the estate’s 800-year history.
Mark McAndrew, head of Strutt and Parker’s national estate and farm sales team, said: “At a time of considerable economic uncertainty, affecting almost all investment sectors, farmland stands out as a hugely attractive option.
“There is certainly a growing appetite for UK farmland from a wide range of buyers, resulting in recent reports of top-quality farms and parcels of commercial land selling for significantly more than their guide prices.
“Farming and food security have never been more at the forefront of global sensitivities – as highlighted by the attention given to the sector by the two remaining Prime Ministerial candidates – so the most productive land is likely to be increasingly sought-after. It follows growing tensions within the rural community about what has been felt by some as a drive to push rewilding over food production.
“This is land capable of growing a wide range of crops, which is becoming ever-more crucial as farmers seek ways to diversify their farming systems, against the backdrop of extreme weather, supply chain disruptions and changes in agricultural policy.”
