Parts of Lancashire and Cheshire put up for sale

PROPERTY consultants Carter Jonas has been instructed by English Partnerships to sell more than 3,000 acres of land across the North of England including Lancashire and Cheshire.

The portfolio of land comprises more than 250 individual plots of land and varies from rough grazing on areas less than an acre to productive arable farms in excess of 200 acres in size.

The land was originally acquired in the creation of the “new town” areas such as Skelmersdale in Lancashire, Warrington in Cheshire, and Washington in Tyne and Wear.

Some of the land, which is not earmarked for development and is still in agricultural use, has been deemed surplus to English Partnerships’ requirements and as a result Carter Jonas has been instructed to dispose of the holdings in the North West and North East of England.

Mark Ludiman, an associate based at the Huddersfield office of Carter Jonas who is handling the instruction for the National Regeneration Agency, said: “We have enjoyed a long relationship with English Partnerships and are delighted to have been appointed to sell its surplus agricultural land.

“We’re finding that there is significant interest from both the major PLCs and investors, neighbouring land owners and farmers who are simply wanting more land.”

He added: “Our experience is that land prices are holding good in the credit crunch. There may not be as many land banking property developers out there but farmers wanting more land and lifestyle purchasers are propping up the market.”

The sale of the land is governed by the Crichel Down Rules which state that the land must first be offered back to the original owner (or their successor) at market value.

Failing this the land is offered to the current tenant, before seeking bids on the open market.