Clavering Hall Farm, Clavering, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11

An excellent ring fenced arable farm with additional income streams.



Description

INTRODUCTION

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of North West Essex, Clavering Hall Farm presents an appealing arable unit complemented by a collection of practical farm buildings. Positioned in an idyllic setting, the farm boasts fields on either side of the River Stort which meanders through the property.

Built in the early 19th century with subsequent additions, the main residence, Clavering Hall, stands prominently positioned. Its southern orientation offers captivating views of the surrounding farmland and the River Stort.

There are three other residences located on the farm. Sheepyard Cottage is a four bedroom farmhouse which is currently let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. In the southernmost yard sit 1 & 2 Highlands Cottages, two and three bedroomed semi-detached properties of brick construction, both properties are well positioned within their own private gardens and are also let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies.

The highly productive arable unit spans 803.91 acres (325.35 hectares) and enjoys convenient accessibility through a well-established road network and quality internal farm tracks. A combination of modern and traditional farm buildings supports the operational needs of the farm, and the facility includes a substantial grain storage capacity of 2,600 tonnes distributed across the two farmyards.

The farm benefits from additional commercial income of £29,570 pa as buildings at Sheepyard and Highlands benefit from planning permission for non-agricultural use and are let to a variety of tenants. This location provides good opportunities for smaller businesses outside a main commercial centre.

THE LAND

The arable land extends to 803.91 acres (325.35 hectares). The land is classified as Grade 2 & 3 in the Agricultural Land Classification Series of England and Wales and is of the Melford and Hanslope soil series. These soils are described as slowly permeable noncalcareous clay soils and well drained loam over
clayey soils. Both are highly suitable for growing cereals and oil seed .

The farm has consistently produced high yielding cereal crops with the 2022 average Winter Wheat yield being 4.56 t/acre and 2022 average Oil Seed yield being 1.49 t/acre.

The land has been very well managed over the years under a stubble to stubble contracting arrangement with a local farmer. The contractors have been served notice with the agreement coming to an end after harvest 2024, offering the land with vacant possession. The contractors are keen to continue with any new owners. Further details on farm yields and cropping records are available in the Data Room.

RESIDENTIAL

Clavering Hall

Clavering Hall is a Grade II listed country house situated in a prominent south facing position close to the public highway. Constructed of red brick under a slate roof, the Hall was built in 1842 and incorporates the adjoining annex to include three reception rooms, seven bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The impressive wooden floored entrance hall of Clavering Hall leads into a spacious kitchen / breakfast room featuring a four door AGA and bay window which enjoys views over the surrounding gardens. The dual aspect drawing room also features a bay window, allowing the room to take full advantage of the natural light. There is a well-proportioned dining room and a further reception room that has a double French door leading directly outside to the terrace overlooking the garden. A cosy sitting room, office, study, utility room and two WC’s complete the ground floor accommodation.

On the first floor, the principal bedroom benefits from a dual aspect which enjoys the impressive views out over the gardens and farmland beyond. There are four further bedrooms in the main house which are serviced by a family bathroom with two additional bedrooms and a family bathroom in the original annex.

An extensive garden lies to the south and east of the farmhouse that is predominantly laid to lawn and features an abundance of mature trees.

Clavering Hall was previously let on a Assured Shorthold Tenancy with the tenant vacating at the end of November 2023 and is available with vacant possession.

Sheepyard Cottage

Sheepyard Cottage is a charming detached farmhouse located in the middle of the farm to the east of the River Stort, providing a tranquil setting. The farmhouse is of part red brick part rendered construction with a peg tile roof and features an attractive garden. Internally, the two storey property offers four bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, dining room and bathroom and includes a converted workshop which is currently used as an office and utility room. The property enjoys access along a private drive. Currently let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy at a rental of £19,200 per annum.

1 & 2 Highlands Cottages

A pair of attractive semi-detached cottages constructed of red brick under a slate roof located close to the Highlands farm buildings. Both are let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies at rents of £12,000 per annum each.

1 Highland Cottage:
Ground Floor: entrance hall, porch, kitchen / dining room, sitting room and utility / WC
First Floor: two bedrooms and bathroom.

2 Highland Cottage:
Ground Floor: entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen / dining room with separate pantry and bathroom.
First Floor: Three bedrooms.

There is a lapsed planning consent for an extension to both cottages – planning reference UTT/1511/06/FUL. Further details are available from the selling agents.

Location

The Farm is located equal distances between the popular market towns of Bishops Stortford and Saffron Waldon which both offer a number of shops, schools, services and public houses as well as a main line rail link to London with a journey time of 45 minutes from Bishops Stortford.

The Stortford Road runs parallel with the farm providing access to the A120 and the M11 which connects Bishops Stortford to London and Cambridge. The city of Cambridge is approximately 21 miles away to the North.

Bishops Stortford – 7 miles
Saffron Waldon – 7 miles
Cambridge – 21 miles
Stansted Airport – 10 miles

Google Maps – Post Code – CB11 4PG
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Acreage: 803.91 Acres

Additional Info

FARM & COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

There are useful buildings situated in two locations at
Clavering Hall Farm.

Sheepyard
The farm buildings and commercial unit at Sheepyard are situated in the heart of the farm and are serviced by mains water, three and single phase electricity and have a concrete hardstanding yard.
1. Grain Store (18m x 24.2m) – steel portal frame construction with two electric roller shutter doors capacity approximately 850t . The store has box profile walls, fibre cement roof, a drying floor with a central divide and an electric fan house with gas burners.
2. General Purpose Shed (18.2m x 27.5m) – former potato store of steel portal frame construction with block walls, steel insulated roof with concrete flooring and a roller shutter door. The building is currently let and was granted approved planning permission for commercial use in November 2022
(ref UTT/17/1324/CLE). The current rent is £6,230.64 pa and the rateable value is £10,500.

Highlands

The buildings at Highlands are situated to the south of the holding and benefit from direct access off the public road. The buildings are serviced by private water (via a pipe from a separate mains water meter at Clavering Hall), 3 and single phase electricity and a concrete hardstanding with ample turning space.
1. Grain Store (18.3m x 24.7m) – built in 2011 and of steel portal frame construction with two sliding doors capacity approximately 800t. The store has block and fibre cement sheeted walls, a drying floor, central divide and an electric fan house with gas burners.
2. Grain Store (18.3m x 24.7m) – steel portal frame construction with two roller shutter doors capable of storing approximately 1000t of grain. The store has box profile walls, a grain drying floor and central divide with fans and a gas burner. There are solar panels on the roof and an export system size of 35.7 kW with no feed in feed tariff scheme. An export limit of 25kW is set by UK Power Networks.
3. Double Dutch Barn (18.2m x 27m) – steel frame (open ended) constructed of block and corrugated iron walls and roof and concrete flooring.
4. Courtyard Commercial Units – brick built under part fibre cement part box sheet roofing/corrugated iron roof. This building is divided into four commercial units with UPVC windows yielding an income of £19,500pa. There are in addition three let containers which provide an income of £3,840.