Average price of pasture land?

[stugordon321]

Hi all.
I'm new to this site & not strictly into farming & agriculture although all my family either own or have owned farms before retiring etc.
I would like to know the rough cost of about half acre of land to use as a base/yard for my business. I've recently (12 months ago) started running my own fencing business. So far I would say I'm happy how things have been going with the business, however this year my plans are to keep growing the fencing side of it but I've also invested in a little tractor to use with a post driver & auger etc. I also plan using tractor to offer ground-care services like maintaining paddocks/fields etc for horse owners etc who don't have the machinery of there own.
My question is how much should I expect to pay for half to one acre of farm land?? It doesn't need to be good pasture land a bit of scabby old scrub would do as I would clear it up & fence it off as needed.

What is the going rate for farm land?

Would I need to get a change of use for it ( I would need a decent size shed to store materials & machinery in) but that would be a shed not a permanent building such as a barn.

Would need access via a gateway or track etc.

Wouldn't require services like water / electric etc.

Any help would be great.
Also do poeple think my idea is workable ? From a business point of view as obviously I don't want to put money into a venture that's likely to fail.
I have the knowledge & ability to carry out the intended work so any help or tips would be great.
Thanks Stu.

 

[Grassman]

Location is key. You havn't put it in your profile?
Farmland is anything from 2k to 100k an acre!
An acre inside the m25 or on the outer hebrides makes a big difference.

 

[stugordon321]

Sorry Grassman should of said I'm based in Oxfordshire so guessing land goes for top money round this area?
I have been toying with the idea of renting however I'm not sure about going down this ruete becouse I will need to build a barn/machinery shed to keep everything in & if I go down the security fencing around the yard I wouldn't want do all that work to somewhere that's not my own as I could spend a fortune only to loose the lease at some point down the line.
Looking forward to your replys
Thanks Stu

 

[Grassman]

I havn't a clue what value land is down there but if it's similar to here then 10 acres will be 10k an acre quite often. 1 acre however is where it gets difficult to value. You are in the price range that a lot of people can afford just as a plaything. It could make 20k upwards. If it's next to a house then who knows. Slightest hint of planning for a house then it's anyone's guess. If you do buy then you won't necessarily get permission for what you want.

 

[Surgery]

Sorry Grassman should of said I'm based in Oxfordshire so guessing land goes for top money round this area?
I have been toying with the idea of renting however I'm not sure about going down this ruete becouse I will need to build a barn/machinery shed to keep everything in & if I go down the security fencing around the yard I wouldn't want do all that work to somewhere that's not my own as I could spend a fortune only to loose the lease at some point down the line.
Looking forward to your replys
Thanks Stu

Where abouts in oxfordshire , have a enclosed yard we might be able to do something with in the short term , pm me

 

[Dry Rot]

If you can permission to do what you want on it, it won't be pasture land but development, so a different ball game. Have an informal chat with planning first?

 

[Pasty]

In my experience, if you buy half and acre of pasture and try to turn it into brownfield or industrial use, you will struggle to get a building. In fact I think it would be impossible, certainly down here. If you just buy the land and get on with it, you can be sure you will be reported fairly soon unless the site is down a track and surrounded by trees in a deserted area. Even then, you'll probably be spotted from the air.

You will need a change of use certainly and it's not easy to change from Ag to anything else. Horticulture probably the easiest but that may only be granted on a temporary basis. It really depends on the council in your area and their ideas.

If you are in a position to borrow money, a better approach maybe to buy a bigger parcel of land with a building already on it, fence the half acre and sell the rest again. If you paddock it and find some horsey buyers you might even make a profit! You would still be changing the use but could probably make it 'look like' agriculture and keep the doors shut.

Also, larger parcels of land tend to go for less per acre in general. Good luck with it.

 

[Vizslaman]

Stu.

Here in Hampshire I recently paid £12k an acre for 12.44 acres of paddock.
But another field divided into 1 acre paddocks with water were selling to the horsey folks for £30k each paddock