Farmland values set to remain high

Farmland prices are holding firm, with supply falling well behind last year and demand remaining strong, according to the latest figures from Savills.

(Source: Farmers Weekly, 13 Nov 2009)

The amount of publicly marketed farmland in Great Britain in the 10 months to the end of October was more than a quarter below the same period in 2007/08, with Scotland and the east of England showing the largest declines.

In Scotland, the Borders suffered from a particular shortage of supply, down by 90% year-on-year, said Anna Thomas, head of Savills Rural in Edinburgh.

“Lack of supply of prime arable land is, without a doubt, driving strong prices – the gap has widened between prime arable land and other farmland.” Although average farmland values had remained stable throughout the year, prime arable land prices had increased by 4.4%.

Non-farming interest had dropped to make up about a third of the market, and local purchasers were outbidding incomers in most cases, she added. “It is still a very active market – land is seen as a safe haven for money in the current market. Low commodity prices are gong to have some effect on the general sentiment, but people are taking a long-term view.”

Miss Thomas did not foresee a significant increase in the amount of land coming onto the market, and therefore expected values to continue to rise steadily over the next few years.

Further south, land availability had completely dried up, said David Cross from Savills’ Salisbury office. “We have now sold out. We are seeing some properties for next year but it is unlikely that much will get launched between now and Christmas.”

Prices had almost returned to 2007 levels and demand remained extremely strong for larger commercial farms.

“There is demand at all levels. The only area which has been significantly more difficult is where the house has become over half the value of the whole property, due to the more difficult residential market.”

Mr Cross said a number of sales were being completes privately.

“A lot of people who have gone into the farmland market over the past decade, have seen their other businesses hit pretty hard in the past 18 months. Some of them have decided to bail out while the timing is good.” But with strong demand likely to continue into 2010, values would remain at the recent higher levels, he said.

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