More land and farms wanted on Scottish market

As in all UK land markets, more supply is needed in Scotland. Anything of quality is generally readily snapped up, with private sales accounting for a good proportion of what is on the market.

This is the case in Angus, where a good number of farms have been and are on the market privately as a result of reorganisation and a cluster of generational changes that seem to happen every so often, said Bell Ingram senior partner Malcolm Taylor.

See also: Global farmland prices rise as demand for land grows

The estate sales side in Scotland has been dominated by the private market over the past two years, said Strutt & Parker’s Robert McCulloch.

The same applies to the upper end of the farms market, for example where the value is £5m-plus.

Some sales have come about because members of the next generation have taken up careers outside farming, while the buying side has seen larger operators taking on additional land to achieve economies of scale.

In the uplands, increasing values for marginal and hill farm land have prompted some retirement sale decisions that may not otherwise have been made for a few years.

While the statistics show that between January and the end of August 11% more acres had been advertised in Scotland this year than last, the market does not feel as if that is the case, said Savills Scotland rural director Evelyn Channing.

“Even the private market seems quieter. I don’t know why people are sitting tight, but suspect it’s partly to do with the lack of clarity on the farm support system, people don’t know what they are getting,” she said.

“Also they have got their heads down, coping with higher interest rates and keeping costs down.

Caution on investment

“When something of quality comes up, you know it will sell well, but we’re just seeing a bit of apathy for anything that requires investment in buildings, for example.”

The firm has just launched Blackhall Farm, Bridge of Cally in Perthshire, with just over 500 acres of upland land and multiple opportunities for rural business uses.

This is in an accessible location in the edge of the Cairngorms National Park and has 77 acres of grazing, 376 acres of heather hill, 43 acres of amenity woodland and a traditional steading.

The steading is in poor repair but has potential for conversion to accommodation, while the gently sloping land has timber production and/or carbon unit potential.  

There is also lapsed planning permission for wind turbines, while fishing rights along a stretch of the Black Water are included in the sale. 

Savills has Blackhall Farm on the market for offers of more than £950,000.

Cockmuir Farm © Galbraith

In Moray, agent Galbraith has just launched Cockmuir Farm, close to Elgin, with almost 113 acres, a six-bedroom period farmhouse, stone steading and good arable and pasture land.

There is about 11 acres of wetland and 32 acres of mature woodland and the farmhouse has a 38-panel solar installation.

Cockmuir Farm is on the market for offers of more than £835,000.