Across the UK, landowners are rethinking the way they dispose of unwanted land parcels with the key aim to maximise their returns in the face of farming industry pressures.
During the past year we have seen a surge in the amount of land coming forward into our quarterly property auction, with prices continuing to rise as buyer numbers increase.
There has been a wide variety of amenity land, grassland, arable and paddock land entering our auctions with many achieving sold prices significantly above guide.
The wide appeal of grassland in village settings
The property auction held in June last year included the opportunity to purchase a single parcel of grassland interspersed with self-seeded trees on the edge of the village of Hundon in Suffolk. The 9.37-acre lot proved popular, with bidders competing up to a hammer price of £182,000, or £19,423 per acre.
A 2.36-acre parcel of meadow land at Houghton, Huntingdon, came forward to our September property auction with the benefit of roadside access, an open-fronted timber pole barn, a further field shelter, small pond and several established fruit trees. Competitive bidding was brought to a close at a price of £175,000, equating to £74,152 per acre.
December saw further opportunities with 2.29 acres of enclosed paddock land at Kirtling, Cambridgeshire and 7.77 acres of grassland at Bourn, Cambridgeshire. These entries achieved hammer prices of £124,000 and £102,000 respectively, equating to £54,148 per acre and £13,127 per acre.
December sales of arable and amenity parcels
Also in December, an outlying parcel of Grade 2 and 3 arable land at Witcham Hythe near Ely, attracted numerous buyers. The 17.43-acre parcel of agricultural land was sold with vacant possession at a hammer price of £126,000, or £7,223 per acre.
Amenity land in Longstanton, Cambridgeshire proved very popular, with the 3.26 acres including vehicular access, a timber framed building and power supply achieving £300,000 (£92,024 per acre) despite being overgrown. The location of this lot, close to popular villages and main transport links, and its potential for alternative uses, fuelled frantic bidding.
Wide-ranging demand
These case studies demonstrate the vast levels of demand that exist for these smaller parcels of land that farmers and landowners often don't know what to do with. What might be an off-lying parcel or nuisance to a seller, always seems to represent a fantastic purchase for the wide variety of buyers who attend our sales, and who take a multitude of forms: other farmers, landowners, lifestyle buyers, amenity buyers and so many more.
These purchasers often buy with their heart rather than their head, and frequently pay what they need to, rather than what an arbitrary price per acre would suggest that the land might be worth. Our auction is a fantastic way for vendors to find this maximum value.
The good news is, there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year to enter your land into our property auctions; in 2026 our sales will take place on 4th March, 10th June, 23rd September and 9th December.
Get In Touch
If you are considering selling land and want to maximize its value, getting advice on how best to sell can make all the difference. The Cheffins rural team are here to help at every stage - from marketing and valuations through to overages.
For more information, please contact us by email or visit our Property Auction page on the Cheffins website, or by calling the Property Auction team on 01223 213777.