M A N O R F A R M D A I R Y D O W N H E A D S H E P T O N M A L L E T S O M E R S E T
M A N O R F A R M D A I R Y D o w n h e a d S h e p t o n M a l l e t S o m e r s e t BA 4 4 L G Frome 6.4 miles, Shepton Mallet 6.6 miles, Westbury 13.4 miles (London Paddington from 1 hours 46 minutes), Bath 16.5 miles All mileages and times are approximate. FIRST CLASS COMMERCIAL DAIRY FARM WITH EXTENSIVE BUILDINGS 64 point DeLaval rotary milking parlour Extensive range of modern farm buildings Productive grassland and arable land Available as a whole In total 222.95 acres (90.22 hectares) Savills Salisbury Rolfes House 60 Milford Street Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 2BP Tel: 01722 426810 dcross@savills.com Savills Bath Edgar House 17 George Street Bath BA1 2EN 01225 474500 bshort@savills.com
INTRODUCTION Manor Farm Dairy is located between Shepton Mallet and Frome, in an attractive part of Somerset. The farm totals approximately 223 acres with the extensive modern farm buildings centrally located. Currently the farm is operated with additional rented land and forage crops grown under contract. Further details are available from the agents. The buildings at Manor Farm provide state-of-the-art facilities, offering the potential to run a highly intensive and efficient dairy system. They comprise a large dairy complex including a 64point DeLaval rotary milking parlour and three large openspan buildings which, together with cubicles, silage pits and slurry facilities, currently provide year-round accommodation for a 1,300 dairy herd, with the ability to expand still further. LOCATION AND SITUATION The pretty hamlet of Downhead lies in the heart of the Mendip Hills a short distance from the village of Leigh-on-Mendip. Leigh-on-Mendip provides a range of amenities including a first school taking children from 4-9, farm shop, The Bell public house, St Giles's church, a village hall and many active clubs and societies. The market town of Shepton Mallet is approximately 6 miles away and offers a comprehensive range of amenities and services including additional schools. The Georgian City of Bath lies 25 miles to the north and the picturesque City of Wells 11 miles to the west. Babington House and the Longleat Estate with its famous safari park are both close at hand. Golf can be played locally at Orchardleigh Golf Club, whilst National Hunt racing is within easy reach at Wincanton and Exeter, with flat racing at Bath and Salisbury. METHOD OF SALE Manor Farm Dairy is offered for sale by private treaty as a whole.
FARMING The farm is farmed in hand by the vendors, and currently comprises a herd of approximately 2,000 cattle. The dairy herd comprises 1,000 animals with 1,000 followers and all year round calving. The herd have a rolling average yield of approx. 10,200 litres based on 305 day average and 12 month average milk sale showing butterfat of 3.85% and protein at 3.16%. More details of the herd performance are available from the agents. All the young stock are reared as replacements for the dairy herd or disposed of as the current TB status allows. Currently 900 cows are milked three times a day, with the parlour capable of milking 380 cows per hour. At present the staffing comprises the farm manager, herd manager and 13 full time employees. Further details are available from the agents. FARM BUILDINGS The farm buildings are in one central location, these form the basis of the dairy unit. The buildings are numbered in the plan and comprise: 1. Collecting Yard, Parlour and Dairy Building Steel portal frame building with brick walls to a height of approximately 2m, timber end cladding, PVC coated profile steel sheeting and roller shutter doors, all under a pitched fibre cement roof. The building houses an automated gate push collecting yard for 360 cows, animal drafting and treatment races and a 64 point DeLaval fully automated rotary milking parlour. Milk is contained in two bulk tanks with a total capacity of 50,000 litres. The building also houses an office and staff room with kitchen. 2. Single span steel portal frame building under a pitched fibre cement roof, providing freestall housing for approximately 380 cows. We understand the building was constructed in 2010. 3. Single span steel portal frame building under a pitched fibre cement roof. Constructed in 2010 this provides further housing for approximately 380 cows. 4. Large open span shed with two side wings around a feed yard. We understand the building was constructed in the 1970s, with extensions added to the wings in 2006. Constructed of steel portal frames with concrete block cladding and timber Yorkshire boarding above. Fitted out with 469 cubicles, a straw calving yard and associated feed passages. 5. Redundant parlour building, constructed of a steel portal frame with concrete block walls. We understand the building was constructed in the 1970s. 6. A recently erected general purpose barn used as a straw store. There are eight silage clamps with effluent tanks and a slurry tower, dirty water lagoon. Slurry is applied to the land around the Dairy buildings via an umbilical system. A further substantial slurry lagoon is under construction which will increase total storage capacity to approx 11,000m3. The farm is not in a NVZ. CARAVANS There are three caravans on site for staff accommodation. LAND In total the land at Manor Farm extends to approximately 223 acres, the majority of which is Grade 3 and farmed in a rotation of forage maize and grass leys. The land north of the Old Wells Road is a freely draining loamy soil series. The main block of land around the dairy complex is characterised by base-rich, loamy soils which may in places be slowly permeable and seasonally wet. The farm is currently farmed together with a number of separate Farm Business Tenancies and other agreements which the vendor has entered in to locally. Further details are available from the vendors agents.
GENERAL REMARKS Tenure and Possession The farm is freehold and is sold with vacant possession Services All the buildings are connected to mains electricity and water supplies. The majority if the land has the benefit of a mains water supply. Milk Quota Approximately 12 million litres of milk quota at 3.938% butterfat is available with the holding. This is available separately from the purchase price and would be bought at market value at completion. Single Farm Payment The Single Payment Scheme Entitlements as historically validated over the land are included in the sale. The 2014 claim will be retained by the vendor and the vendor agrees to use reasonable endeavours to transfer the Entitlements for future Single Payment Scheme purpose to the purchaser(s). Planning There is planning permission for three caravans to house employees on the farm. Mendip District Council: 0300 303 8588 Bovine Tuburculosis (TB) The farm is not currently under TB movement restrictions. Lock, Stock and Barrel Sale The Vendors may sell Manor Farm to a Purchaser, selling on all of the cows, silage, fodder and stores at completion on a Lock, Stock and Barrel basis if required. A list of livestock and machinery that is available for purchase can be obtained from the Agents. Ingoing Valuation The purchaser shall, in addition to the purchase price, be required to takeover and pay for those items of tenant right including: Growing crops and other tillages, post harvest sprays and other acts of husbandry to include costs of all cultivations, chemicals and fertilisers in accordance with Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) costings. All clamped silage will be charged for at 30 per tonne for grass silage, 35 per tonne for maize silage and 65 per tonne for whole crop wheat. Hay and straw at market value. All purchased stores including fertilisers, seeds, sprays, feeding stuffs, fuel and oils etc. to be charged at cost. Tenant right shall be paid for immediately the valuation is agreed (with interest at 4% over Barclays Bank plc base rate for the time being the date of valuation) from completion to date of payment. Should the valuation not be agreed within four weeks of completion, the matter should be referred to the decision of a single Arbitrator to be appointed by agreement or in the event of a dispute by the President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Minerals We understand that mineral rights have been reserved by a third party and they are not included in the sale. They have no right to extract. Rights of Way, Wayleaves and Easements There are two footpaths which cross the farm in the south western and north western corners as shown on the plan. Health and Safety Given the potential hazards of a working dairy farm, we would ask you to be as vigilant as possible for your own personal safety when making your own inspection. Local Authorities Mendip District Council, Shepton Mallet: 0300 303 8588 Somerset County Council, Taunton: 0845 345 9166 Employees The intention of the Sellers is to sell the Farm as a going concern and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 will apply to the employees and the Contracts for Employment of the employees shall automatically transfer to the Buyer on the date of actual completion. The Buyer shall be responsible for and shall indemnify the Seller against all wages and other benefits receivable by any of the employees in respect of the period after actual completion and all claims by or in respect of any employee deriving from the transfer of the property itself or from any act or omission of the Buyer after actual completion of the sale. Viewing Strictly by appointment through the selling agents only. Important Notice Savills and their clients give notice that: 1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact. 2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise. 3. The reference to any mechanical or electrical equipment or other facilities at the property shall not constitute a representation (unless otherwise stated) as to its state or condition or that it is capable of fulfilling its intended function; prospective purchasers/tenants should satisfy themselves as to the fitness of such equipment for their requirements. 4. We have not made any investigation into the existence or otherwise of any issues concerning pollution of land, air or water contamination and the purchaser is responsible for making his own enquiries in this regard. Particulars written in February 2014. Photographs taken April 2014.
DIRECTIONS From London take the M3 West onto the A303. Travel along the A303 to Wylye and then take the A36 North. At the third roundabout take the first exit onto the A362 sign posted to Frome. Continue along this round until the A361 T-junction at which turn left. Follow the A361 west towards Shepton Mallet over three roundabouts. Then take the right hand turn after Torr Works off the A361 and on to Slait Hill, signposted to Downhead. Continue along this road through the village of Downhead and the entrance to the farm can be found on the right hand side, immediately after a stone barn and just before the church.