A Chance to Own and Run a Cracking Operational Free-range Cumbrian Egg Production Unit
In a week that has seen Morrison’s commit to buying only free-range eggs, the opportunity to buy a poultry farm, already set up as an operational free-range egg production unit, with access to land, must be considered a sound business proposition. H&H Land & Estates is understandably delighted to bring to the market a 52-acre small holding near Longtown in Cumbria, which offers a range of opportunities.
High Catlowdy Farm, north east of Longtown, is a good quality, small poultry farm comprising four poultry units with Vencomatic egg collecting and packing equipment, approximately 52 acres of land, a 5-bedroom farmhouse, five stables and traditional stone outbuildings. The farm also has planning consent for a holiday chalet.
With an overall guide price of £750,0000 as a whole, High Catlowdy is offered for sale as a whole or in two lots through the Carlisle Borderway office of H&H Land & Estates.
Lot 1 consists of the farmhouse, a range of traditional stone outbuildings, four poultry units with Vencomatic egg collecting and packing equipment, together with 5 stables and approximately 27 acres of land.
Lot 2, with a guide price of £150,000, consists of a plot with planning permission for a twin bedroomed holiday chalet, a timber-framed general purpose shed, and approximately 25 acres of land.
Giving further background, Thomas Armstrong, Director for H&H Land & Estates said: “This is the first stand-alone poultry farm I have brought to the market and I really do believe this offers a fantastic opportunity, as it is fully operational and quite literally set up for someone to run. This is a small farm ideal for someone who wants to come in and work on a small holding from day one and the size of the egg unit could justify a full-time position. As soon as the hens are in-situ, the new owner can start their business. It has been run as a free-range unit; however it could also be suitable for organic free-range egg production.
“People are investing in poultry units, but they are not selling them, so coupled with the Morrison’s announcement this is a very timely opportunity. Also, being close to Carlisle and the M6, we are expecting a lot of interest.”
The land, registered for Basic Payment purposes, is split into 15 field enclosures. It is quality pastureland well-suited to a combination of uses including free-range egg production, horse and livestock grazing.
The egg-laying unit is fully functional, with four steel framed sheds which have previously housed 10,000 hens and all collection and packaging equipment is in place. Solar panels are installed on one poultry shed roof, and an auxiliary diesel generator is in place. The stone farm buildings include five stables, workshop, egg storage and garage facilities.
Dating back to 1840, the rendered and white-washed traditional five-bedroom stone-built farmhouse retains many original features and is surrounded by well cared for gardens.
High Catlowdy Farm is offered for sale Freehold with Vacant Possession on completion. If the property is sold in lots the legal ownership of the access track will be included within Lot 1 with the Buyer of Lot 2 being given a right of way.
Viewings are strictly by appointment and should be arranged through the Carlisle Borderway office of H&H Land & Estates on 01228 406260.
H&H Land & Estates is one of the North’s largest firms of chartered surveyors and specialist rural advisors in the region, with farming clients across the North West, North East and Southern Scotland with a number of farms and parcels of land currently on the market.