Howlett House Farm, Slackholme End, Hogsthorpe, Skegness, PE24

A significant commercial agricultural holding extending
to approximately 2677 acres.

Description

Howlett House Farm is a substantial and productive farming estate located just 4.5 miles east of the Lincolnshire Wolds. This commercial-scale farm, located between the towns of Skegness and Alford, has been professionally farmed to the highest standards and extends to approximately 2,700 acres (1,092 hectares).

The majority of the farm is classified as grade 3 on the Provisional Agricultural Land Classification Map, well suited to producing high yielding crops of wheat, barley, oilseed , vining peas, beans and energy crops. The land lies predominantly within a ring fence, with the remainder within very close proximity. There has been significant investment at the main yard, which is well laid out for grain handling, drying and storage, with approximately 7,000 tonnes of modern grain
storage and planning consent for a further 3,000 tonnes of additional storage.

Howlett House, the main farmhouse, is a spacious and well-presented family home featuring five bedrooms, two generously sized reception rooms, large family kitchen-diner, snug, additional utility and storage rooms, farm office, two bathrooms, and WC. The house is attractively set within approximately 1.5 acres of grounds, with a range of substantial traditional farm buildings bordering the property to the north. Bristol Farmhouse, the secondary residential property, is situated to the south of the estate and comprises 3 bedrooms, upstairs bathroom, downstairs WC.

Farming

The farm consists of high quality, well drained fields of deep silty clay loam, enabling a wide range of high yielding combinable crops to be grown, with the possibility of additional specialist crops. The fields are generally large, making them efficient for modern farming methods, and well accessed from public roads with extensive internal tracks linking the fields.

The majority of the land is classified as grade 3 on the Provisional Agriculture Land Classification Map. The land yields very well as set out below and has regularly provided excellent gross margins. The farm has been fully drained with regular repair and maintenance being undertaken.

Farm Buildings

The main farmstead is located at Howlett House Farm, and includes all the crop storage facilities along with a workshop, general purpose buildings, fuel storage sheds, bunded sprayer shed, traditional buildings and the farm offices. There has been significant investment in the storage facilities which include approximately 7,000 tonnes of grain storage, fed by a 46t/hr Allmet Continuous Flow Drier and benefiting from a fixed inground weighbridge. Additionally, there is consent for a further 3,000 tonnes of grain storage (N/084/02312/22), though construction for this has not yet commenced.

There is an additional set of sheds with general-purpose, portal-framed storage buildings near the village of Slootby, which are currently unused.

Residential

The Estate includes two farmhouses, the principal being located at Howlett House Farm, and the secondary farmhouse, at Bristol Farm. Howlett House is an attractive and well-maintained 5 bedroom Victorian farmhouse, sitting in 1.5 acres of grounds, which has benefitted from two extensions in the past 26 years.

Bristol Farmhouse features 3 bedrooms and a range of
traditional outbuildings, and is currently vacant, requiring some refurbishment, but has a reported ERV of approximately £12,000 pa.

Howlett House

On the ground floor, entry through the main reception hall leads into a generously sized library, which features purpose built display cases. Adjacent to the library is the largest of the
family reception rooms, which includes traditional features, a log-burning stove and a sunroom extension with views across the grounds. Also accessible from the main hall is a spacious open plan family kitchen and dining room. The kitchen, a central feature of the house, boasts custom cabinetry, an electric/gas Rangemaster, and a log-burning stove, offering ample space for both entertaining and family living. Adjacent to the kitchen and also providing access from the garden, is a rear hallway leading to a utility, downstairs WC, boot room, store room and separate staircase to a private office and snug. On the main first floor, accessed via the main staircase, there are five generous double bedrooms and two family bathrooms.

Howlett House Farm Buildings

1. Modern Portal Frame Grain Stores: The property features modern portal frame grain stores, divided into three primary storage areas with a combined total capacity of 7,000 tonnes. Additionally, there is consent for a further 3,000 tonnes of grain storage (N/084/02312/22), though
construction for this has not yet commenced.

2. Grain Dryer: A grain dryer with a capacity of 46 tonnes per hour is in place, supported by an overhead conveyor system that efficiently feeds dry grain into all storage areas, including along the entire length of the main store and into the rear store. The drier has been regularly maintained
and underwent substantial recent investment, including replacement of top and bottom conveyors in 2024 and a new control panel in 2023.

3. Fixed In-Ground Weighbridge: The site also includes a fixed, in-ground weighbridge measuring 50ft by 15ft, with an approximate capacity of 50 tonnes.

4. Traditional Farm Buildings: A range of traditional farm buildings are present, including a farm office, a weighbridge office, a traditional workshop, bunded chemical store, stables/wood store, garage for the house, and additional general-purpose storage spaces.

5.Fuel Storage Shed: Fuel storage on the property is extensive, with a dedicated shed housing an 18,000-litre tank, a bunded 10,000-litre diesel tank, and an additional 2,500-litre fuel tank. There is also one mains fed 40,000-litre water tank to the rear of the yard.
6. General Storage Shed: The general storage shed, with concrete floor and mezzanine, is constructed to the dimensions of a squash court. With access directly to the Sprayer Shed, this could be easily utilised as a chemical store.

7. Sprayer Shed: Adjacent to the general storage shed is a bunded sprayer shed equipped with a roller door.

8. Portal Frame Workshop / General Store: A large portal-framed extension to the main grain store. This space is currently used as a workshop, featuring a full-height roller door, and offers additional storage for grain, fertiliser or machinery to the middle and rear sections, with roller door
access to the main farm track at the rear.

Renewable Energy Potential

Howlett House Farm presents unique opportunities for onshore wind and solar energy development, leveraging its 2,700-acre largely ring-fenced, private footprint and strategic location in Lincolnshire. The farm’s topography, consistent wind patterns and coastal breezes make it a prime candidate for wind turbine installation, while the extensive, unobstructed fields offer ideal sites for solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays. The lack of public footpaths and distance from neighbouring properties is
particularly attractive to potential renewable developers. Several interested parties are already in discussions with the vendors, and Heads of Terms are currently being considered. Most notably, c.700 acres of land on the western side of the farm are currently under discussion for solar development, with proposed mapping available upon request.

Discussions to date have primarily been with parties that have secured significant grid connection offers in to the proposed new Grimsby to Walpole 400,000 volt (400 kV) overhead electricity transmission line which is planned to run directly across the farm allowing for projects at significant scale. Integrating these renewable energy projects has the potential to diversify the farm’s income streams significantly, contribute to sustainability efforts, and considerable increase the estate’s long-term value.

Location

Howlett House Farm is situated 2 miles to the south of Hogsthorpe village. Hogsthorpe offers essential amenities such as a village shop, primary school, and two traditional pubs. For more extensive amenities, the seaside town of Skegness is approximately a 15-minute drive, offering supermarkets, leisure facilities, and a selection of restaurants. There are a range of excellent schools locally, with secondary Grammar Schools in Skegness, Alford and Horncastle. The city of Lincoln, around 41 miles to the west, offers a comprehensive selection of facilities, shopping options, and a mainline train service to London and other major cities.

ROAD - The A1 (M) is approximately 40 miles from the estate, accessible via the A158 and A16, offering convenient travel routes to both northern and southern destinations.

RAIL - The nearest train station is in Skegness, providing regular services to Grantham, from where direct trains to London Kings Cross can be boarded, taking around 1h 10m.

AIR - The closest airport is Humberside Airport, approximately 50 miles away, offering a range of domestic and international flights.


Disclaimer: All journey times and distances are approximate.

Square Footage: 3,394 sq ft


Acreage: 2677 Acres

Directions

Howlett House Farm Postcode: PE24 5NS
What3Words: Agreement.crowd.noted

Additional Info

Local Authority: East Lindsey District Council.

Photographs and Particulars: August 2024

Viewing arrangements are by appointment only through the sole selling agents, Savills.