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County council ploughs £3.4m into farm deal
Lower Portland Farm, Burwell, is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years. - Credit: CCC
A 241-acre farm put up for sale with an asking price of £3.4m has been sold to Cambridgeshire County Council.
It is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years.
Lower Portland Farm near Burwell was put up for sale after the Mason family – who had farmed it for three generations – retired.
Lower Portland Farm, Burwell, is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years. - Credit: Lacy Scott & Knight
Lower Portland Farm, Burwell, is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years. - Credit: Lacy Scott & Knight
The county council’s commercial and investment committee agreed to buy it “after seeing it to be a very well managed farm, with good current and future potential”.
It was offered for sale in for lots, the farmhouse in 1.75 acres for £700,000, farm buildings and 141 acres for £1.46m, 28 acres of arable land for £1m and other land at Hurdle Hall Drove, Burwell, for £250,000.
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Lower Portland Farm in Heath Road has mostly recently grown wheat, barley, sugar beet and seed potatoes. It adjoins other tenanted farmland owned by the council.
In recent years 260 acres of land worth £62m have been sold by the council for development and other use.
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“Buying Lower Portland Farm will enable the council to replenish its farms estate,” said Cllr Mark Goldsack, county farms champion and committee chairman.
Lower Portland Farm, Burwell, is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years. - Credit: Lacy Scott & Knight
He said that the farm and land would provide “provide long term environmental and development opportunities”.
He added: “The farms estate is a valuable asset.
“While it has been necessary to sell some of its land in recent years in order to fund essential services, it is absolutely right that we should be looking to the future.”
He said he was confident that the purchase of Lower Portland Farm “will reap many benefits in the years to come”.
Lower Portland Farm, Burwell, is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years. - Credit: Lacy Scott & Knight
Portland Farm comprises a detached farmhouse dating from the early 1900s, with some adjacent traditional farm buildings.
It has further more modern farm buildings for machinery storage, and a bin store for 270 tonnes, and a floor grain store with a capacity of 450 tonnes.
Sales details show that the farmhouse
is believed to date from the early 1900s and is constructed in traditional Cambridgeshire white brickwork under a slate roof.
Lower Portland Farm, Burwell, is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years. - Credit: Lacy Scott & Knight
The house extends to approximately 1500sqft includes reception hall, dining room, an amalgamated kitchen/living room, rear lobby, utility room and cloakroom together with UPVC conservatory at the rear.
The county council has a tenant in mind for the farm.
Lower Portland Farm, Burwell, is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years. - Credit: Lacy Scott & Knight
Lower Portland Farm, Burwell, is the first farm bought by the county council to add to its 33,000-acre estate in 50 years. - Credit: Lacy Scott & Knight
