Ridge & Westcombe Farms Hooke, Dorset Ridge & Westcombe Farms Hooke, Beaminster, Dorset DT2 0HX A ring-fenced 523 acre dairy farm set in the beautiful chalk hills of the Dorset Downs
Beaminster 4 miles, Yeovil 11 miles, Dorchester 13.5 miles, Southampton 66 miles
Ridge Farm: 3 Bedroom bungalow | Livestock and general purpose agricultural buildings
Westcombe Farm: Purpose built milking parlour | Covered yard, cubicles and general purpose buildings | Staff accommodation| Planning consent for a farmhouse
Grass and arable land | Woodland | Pheasant and partridge shoot
About 523 acres (212 ha) in total. For sale as a whole (property only) or as a going concern.
Situation The farms are situated in the undulating Upper Frome Valley, on the Hooke and Rampisham Down equidistant from Beaminster and Rampisham. Ridge Farm extends south from the Dorchester/ Crewkerne Road (A356) connecting to Westcombe Farm which continues further down the valley to the small village of Hooke. Together they form a compact, ring-fenced property.
Beaminster is 4 miles west of the farms. This attractive small town has a range of independent shops, both a primary and secondary school and a number of cafes and pubs. A larger selection of amenities and facilities, including train stations are available in both Yeovil and Dorchester.
From Dorchester there are major road connections that feed onto the A31 and M27/M3 at Southampton.
Ridge & Westcombe Farms Ridge and Westcombe Farms were formerly part of the Hooke Estate. Since the vendor bought both farms in 2000, they have continued to operate a commercial dairy enterprise, with the principal stock buildings and dairy at Westcombe Farm.
The two holdings have been farmed together for a number of years creating a large ring-fenced parcel of land that surrounds both sets of farm buildings making it particularly efficient for farming livestock. The farms are readily accessed from the A356 in the north and an access drive in Hooke to the south.
The existing farms currently support a herd of 520 Jersey x Holstein-Friesian cows on an extensive, low input system. The cows are milked twice a day on a contract with Arla. The vendor rents an additional 250 acres of land locally, mainly to grow winter fodder.
The farm is being offered for sale as the property only, and also on a ‘lock, stock and barrel’ basis, which will include: • The farms as described in these particulars. • The dairy stock, which at the time of preparing these details, includes 523 cows, 147 bulling heifers and 95 young heifers. • The ‘deadstock’ items, such as all implements and machinery, fuels, feed, silage and all growing or harvested crops. Ridge Bungalow Ridge Farm Buildings The principal dwelling is a 3 bedroom bungalow The drive that enters the farm from the north Open livestock shed with lean-to - steel and located off the drive which enters the farm passes the bungalow and drops down to a concrete block construction under a sheeted from the A356 in the north. The bungalow is yard with farm buildings and a slurry lagoon. roof. (13.5 m x 22.7 m) subject to an agricultural occupancy condition These buildings were once a self-contained and occupies a fantastic, elevated position with dairy unit for Ridge Farm, but now act as Covered silage clamps/general purpose store south-facing views down the valley and across supporting livestock accommodation and – steel and concrete block construction under the farm. general purpose buildings for the principal a sheeted roof with concrete dividing wall in dairy unit at Westcombe Farm. the centre. (11.4 m x 22.7 m) A porch from the parking area at the rear leads into a kitchen with 6-door AGA and doors to the Planning consent was recently granted for the Open livestock shed – steel and concrete sitting room and dining room. A central corridor slurry lagoon at Ridge Farm which has been construction under a sheeted roof. from the kitchen leads to three bedrooms and reshaped and lined for the storage of food (13.6 m x 22.7 m) a bathroom. There is a parking area behind the waste and a further application was granted in house and a large lawned garden to the front October 2013 to install another lagoon for dirty Redundant dairy, collecting yard and loose and side. water, which will give the whole farm capacity to boxes used for general storage and livestock store dirty water for up to 6 months. Details of accommodation. these consents are available from the vendor’s agent upon request.
Ground Floor
Floorplans Gross internal area Ridge Bungalow: 1,103 sq ft (102 sq m) For identifi cation purposes only. Westcombe Farm Buildings Westcombe Farm links to Ridge Farm by two farm tracks which facilitate the efficient movement of livestock and machinery around the land and buildings. The main access to Westcombe Farm is along an unrestricted right of way from the public highway in Hooke. This concrete drive rises north to the farm buildings and temporary accommodation.
A new double Waikato, swing-over herringbone milking parlour with collecting yard and dirty water lagoon was installed in 2009 raising the capacity of the farm up to 600 dairy cows.
Dairy – 2009 Waikato parlour comprising of two side by side 24 cow herringbone parlours. The lean-to on the west side incorporates a cow handling system and cattle crush. On the east side of the parlour there are a series of rooms incorporating the bulk tanks, farm office and plant room. South of the parlour is a circular collecting yard also installed in 2009. (21.6 m x 30 m)
2 x Cubicle sheds – timber construction under corrugated iron roof with a total capacity of 200 cubicles.
Covered yard/silage clamps – twin span, steel portal frame and concrete construction clad with Yorkshire boarding. (30 m x 27.4 m)
Malgar slurry store – 300,000 gallon, above ground tank.
Cubicles – 150 outdoor cubicles.
Open livestock shed – steel and concrete construction under a sheeted roof, clad in Yorkshire boarding. (22.9 m x 13.8 m)
General purpose store – concrete block construction under a sheeted roof.
Foundations of the farmhouse.
Temporary accommodation for herdsmen. Westcombe Farm Cottage The land Located south west of Westcombe farmstead The land has been farmed for many years as is a static caravan providing temporary a productive grazing-based system in line with accommodation for herdsmen. The caravan the dairy enterprise. This system suits the chalk has been in place since 2001 and comprises downland with elements of clay, although the an open porch/garage, utility room, living room, majority of the farm was under an arable rotation kitchen, three bedrooms and a bathroom. with the previous owners. The soil is classified as Grade 3 (DEFRA land classification). Proposed Farmhouse Beside the temporary accommodation are the There is a central chalk track leading from Ridge foundations of a four bedroom detached dwelling Farm to Westcombe Farm which provides with double garage to be constructed in line with access to all fields in between and surrounding a planning consent granted in May 2009. both yards.
The planning consent was granted with an A replacement water ring main was installed agricultural occupancy condition and on the in 2014 to supply most fields with water, basis that the temporary accommodation must the source of which comes from a bore hole be removed before the house is occupied. located beside the milking parlour. Mains water Copies of the planning consent are available is also available to both sets of farm buildings from the vendor’s agent. and the residential property.
The land is split as follows:
Arable/pasture: about 427 acres
Woodland: about 79 acres
Yards, tracks and misc.: about 17 acres
Sporting The farm benefits from being positioned across two large open valleys which set the basis for a challenging pheasant and partridge shoot. The valleys combine with strategically positioned game crops and two principal woods on the farm being Westcombe Coppice in the centre and Ridge Coppice on the northern boundary. Both woods contain pheasant pens.
The current owner has been running a shoot in conjunction with neighbouring landowners. General Method of sale: Ridge and Westcombe Farms Services, EPCs and Council Tax: are offered for sale as a whole (property only) or as a going concern by private treaty. Property Water Electricity Drainage Central Heating EPC Rating Council Tax 2016/17 Electric storage Wayleaves, easements and rights of way: Ridge Bungalow Mains Mains, single phase Private F £1,313 (Corscombe CP) The property is being sold subject to and heaters with the benefit of all rights including; rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, Ridge Farm Bore hole Mains, single phase - - - - drainage, water and electricity supplies and Buildings other rights and obligations, easements and Westcombe Farm quasi-easements and restrictive covenants and Mains Mains, three phase Private Gas D £1,110 (Hooke CP) Cottage all existing and proposed wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cables, drains, water and gas Westcombe Farm Bore hole Mains, three phase - - - - and other pipes whether referred to in these Buildings particulars or not.
There are two bridleways over the land. Further details are available from the owned by the vendor. Further information is Employees: There are no current farm Viewing: Strictly by confirmed appointment with vendor’s agent. available from the vendor’s agent. employees that would transfer to a purchaser. the vendor’s agent, Strutt & Parker in Salisbury The farm is currently operated using 01722 344010 or London 020 7629 7282. Basic Payment: The entitlements to the Basic Ingoing valuation: If the property is not sold as contract labour. a going concern the purchaser will be required Payment are included in the sale. Reproduced from the Ordnance to pay an ingoing valuation for items on the Local authority: Weymouth & Portland Survey Mapping with the The vendor has submitted a claim for the current property such as silage, manures, growing Borough Council (01305 838000); permission of the Controller of scheme year and will retain the payment for crops etc. Further information is available from Dorset County Council (01305 221000). Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. this scheme year in its entirety. The vendor the vendor’s agent. Crown Copyright (ES763454). NOT TO SCALE will use reasonable endeavours to transfer the VAT: Any guide price quoted or discussed is entitlements to the purchaser as soon after Holdover: If the farm is not sold as a going exclusive of VAT. In the event that a sale of the completion as the transfer rules allow. concern, the vendor reserves the right to property, or any part of it, or any right attached to continue operating the dairy farm for as long as it, becomes a chargeable supply for the purposes The eligible area in the 2016 claim is the livestock cannot be moved off the holding of VAT, such tax will be payable in addition. 169.71 hectares. under the Bovine Tuberculosis movement restrictions. The vendor also reserves the right to Health and safety: Given the potential hazards Designations: The Farm is set in the Dorset hold a dispersal sale of livestock and deadstock of a working farm we ask you to be as vigilant as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is also on the holding following completion. possible when making your inspection for your in a Groundwater and Eutrophic Nitrate own personal safety, particularly around the farm Vulnerable Zone and a Groundwater Source Sporting, timber and mineral rights: buildings and machinery. Protection Zone. All sporting timber and mineral rights are included in the freehold sale, in so far as they Solicitors: Trethowans LLP, London Road, Bovine Tuberculosis Status: The farm tested are owned. Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 3HP (01722 412512) positive for Tuberculosis on 16th June 2016. Prospective purchasers should ask the vendor’s Fixtures and fittings: If the property is not sold Directions: Use the postcode DT2 0HX for agent for an up to date status. as a going concern all items usually regarded Ridge Farm. From Dorchester follow the A37 as tenant’s fixtures and fittings and equipment, north and after 3.5 miles bear left on to the Solar Panels: There are solar panels on the including fitted carpets and curtains, A356 towards Crewkerne. Continue on this roofs of buildings at Ridge and Westcombe are specifically excluded from the sale. road for 9 miles, through Maiden Newton, Farms. Those on the parlour at Westcombe These may be available to the purchaser by before reaching the entrance to Ridge Farm Farm are let on a 25 year lease. The other separate negotiation. on the left hand side. The bungalow is located panels at Westcombe and Ridge Farms are 200 yards down the drive on the left.
London Salisbury 13 Hill Street, London W1J 5LQ 41 Milford Street, Salisbury SP1 2BP IMPORTANT NOTICE 0207 629 7282 01722 344 010 Strutt & Parker LLP gives notice that: 1. These particulars do not constitute an offer or contract or part thereof. 2. All descriptions, photographs and plans are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact. All measurements are approximate and not [email protected] [email protected] necessarily to scale. Any prospective purchaser must satisfy themselves of the correctness of the information within the particulars by inspection or struttandparker.com struttandparker.com otherwise. 3. Strutt & Parker LLP does not have any authority to give any representations or warranties whatsoever in relation to this property (including but not limited to planning/building regulations), nor can it enter into any contract on behalf of the Vendor. 4. Strutt & Parker LLP does not accept 60 offices across England and Scotland, responsibility for any expenses incurred by prospective purchasers in inspecting properties which have been sold, let or withdrawn. 5. If there is anything of particular importance to you, please contact this office and Strutt & Parker will try to have the information checked for you. Photographs taken including Prime Central London September 2015. Particulars prepared June 2016.