An accessible and well located farm comprising a range of farm buildings, yard, arable land and grazing marsh of environmental interest on the edge of The Pevensey Levels

Herstmonceux 2 miles, Eastbourne 12 miles, Lewes 17 miles

Range of buildings | Arable land | Grazing marsh

Approximately 230.24 acres (93.18 ha) in total For sale as a whole or in two lots

Lot 1 – Farm Buildings, arable and grazing land extending to 59.90 acres (24.24 ha) – Guide Price £900,000

Lot 2 – Grazing marsh extending to 170.34 acres (68.94 ha) – Guide Price £990,000

Guide Price for the whole £1,890,000

Situation The property is situated at the southern end of Church Lane, to the south of Herstmonceux Church, on the northern edge of the Pevensey Levels. Herstmonceux village, with its range of shops and local amenities lies approximately 2 miles to the north, whilst more extensive facilities can be found in Hailsham, or Eastbourne which are accessed over the A22 and A27 which both lie nearby.

Lot 1 – Buildings and Land extending to 59.90 acres (24.24 ha) shown coloured green

Lot 1 extends to approximately 59.90 acres (24.24 ha) and comprises a block of grade 3 arable land, permanent pasture and a range of farm buildings, coloured green on the sale plan.This land lies to the south of Herstmonceux Church with good gated vehicular access directly from Church Lane.

At the northern end of Lot 1 is a farmyard and a range of five farm buildings set around a central farm yard area as follows:

• Open fronted farm store with part iron framed and corrugated elevations under a corrugated roof (GEA approximately 910 sq ft (84 square metres)).

• Portal framed former grain store and adjoining clamp of concrete block and corrugated elevations under a corrugated roof (GEA approximately 2,410 sq ft (223 sq m)).

• Farm workshop of part stone, part brick and corrugated elevations with a sliding door under a curved corrugated roof (GEA approximately 3,597 sq ft (334 sq m)).

• Open fronted hay barn of portal framed construction under a corrugated roof (GEA of approximately 2,515 sq ft (233 sq m)).

• Large former grain store of steel framed construction with corrugated and galvanised grain walling elevations, with two double height doors under a corrugated roof (GEA approximately 3,725 sq ft (345 sq m)).

The farm buildings are currently used in part for farming purposes, but two lettings also produce commercial rental income, with potential for further development, subject to all necessary consents, being both outside the High Weald AONB and the South Downs National Park.

To the south of the farm buildings is a gently south facing field which is mainly in arable production and extends to some 27.56 acres (11.15 ha). This land, being southerly facing, free draining and at an appropriate altitude and slope angle, may have some potential for viticulture use. The remainder of Lot 1 comprises grazing and on the northern edge of the Pevensey Levels, lying either side of the central access track. These parcels of grazing are bounded by a mix of post and wire fencing and drainage ditches, and include an attractive small pond.

Lot 2 – Land extending to 170.34 acres (68.94 ha) shown coloured blue

Lot 2 extends to some 170.34 acres and comprises a block of the northern edge of The Pevensey levels. This land has good vehicular access over the central farm access track and is subdivided by a number of traditional drainage ditches. The larger Tong’s Fleet and Kentland Fleet drainage channels run along the eastern and south-eastern boundaries, and the land is bounded in places by post and wire fencing with five bar gates.

General

Method of sale: The property is offered for sale as a whole, or in two lots, by private treaty. A deadline may be set for best offers and interested parties are therefore encouraged to register their interest with the selling agent at an early opportunity.

Access: Church Farm is accessed directly from Church Lane by way of a pair of five bar gates into the farmyard. If Lots 1 and 2 are sold separately, a new right of way will be granted across the farmyard and over the central farm track forming part of Lot 1 to access Lot 2, subject to contributions to maintenance on an ‘as to user’ basis. Further information is available from the selling agent.

Services: There are mains electricity and mains connections to the farmyard. Interested parties should rely on their own enquiries as to the suitability and location of other service connections.

Wayleaves, Easements and Rights of Way: The property is being sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights including; rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and electricity supplies and other rights and obligations, easements and quasi-easements and restrictive covenants and all existing and proposed wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cables, drains, water and gas and other pipes whether referred to in these particulars or not. Bridleway HER/42/1 forming part of the 1066 Country Walk runs through the farmyard and along the main farm track from Church Lane.

Basic Payment: The vendor’s have claimed and will retain the 2023 scheme year basic payment. The Purchasers will be required to give an undertaking that they will comply with ongoing BPS Cross Compliance Rules until 31st December 2023.

Agri-Environment Schemes: Lot 2 is within an Higher Level Stewardship Scheme which runs to 29/2/2028. Lot 1 is partly within a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme and partly within an Entry Level Stewardship Scheme. Any purchaser will be obliged to undertake to continue to meet the requirements of these schemes until expiry and will be required to indemnify the vendor against any re-claim of past payments as a result of actions by a purchaser, their tenants or representatives prior to the expiry of the schemes. Further information is available from the selling agent.

Occupation: The large grain store and the small grain store are let to tenants on new four year leases running until July 2027, at a combined annual rent of £10,920, contracted out of the security of tenure provisions of the 1954 landlord and Tenant Act.

Overage: A new overage clause will be applied to the yard and buildings only at date of sale, triggered by implementation of a consent for two or more residential dwellings. Further information is available from the selling agent.

Designations: The land is not situated within either the South Downs National Park or The High Weald AONB. The majority of the land falls within the Pevensey Levels SSSI and some of the land is in a Ramsar Site and a Special Area of Conservation.

Sporting, timber and mineral rights: All mineral, timber and sporting rights are included in the freehold sale, in so far as they are owned.

Local authority: Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX. www.wealden.gov.uk

VAT: Any guide price quoted or discussed is exclusive of VAT. In the event that a sale of the property, or any part of it, or any right attached to it, becomes a chargeable supply for the purposes of VAT, such tax will be payable in addition.

Health and safety: Given the potential hazards of a working farm, we ask you to be as vigilant as possible when making your inspection for your own personal safety. Please contact Strutt & Parker on the details below to arrange a viewing.

Solicitors: Gaby Hardwicke, 34 Wellington Square, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1PN.

Directions From the centre of Herstmonceux, proceed east on Gardner Street, before turning right onto Chapel Row, signposted for Flowers Green. Proceed south on Chapel Row for approximately 1.6 miles. The entrance to Church Farm will be found at the end of the lane, immediately after the Church.

Using the What3Words app the entrance to the farmyard is located at innocence.unique.mildest Viewing

Strictly by confirmed appointment with the vendor’s agents, Strutt & Parker, on 01273 407024