RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO LET NCC Farm, Welney Farms Estate Equipped Holding of 75.16 Acres (30.41 Hectares)

Closing date for applications: 12 Noon Thursday 26 March 2020

Lead contact: Tom Proctor 01603 222494 07452 946135 ///aviators.remedy.mankind thomas.proctor@.gov.uk

NCC Farm, Welney Estate Holdover The outgoing tenant will have the right of Location Holdover for the lifting of the sugar beet crop up Situated on the Welney Farms Estate, NCC Farm is to the 20 December 2020 and to clamp the same located approximately 12 miles south west of (if required) up to the 28 February 2021. and approximately 14 miles Outgoings south of . The postcode for is PE14 9SP. What3Words: ///aviators.remedy.mankind Drainage Rates are payable to Manea & Welney Commissioners. Description There are metered water and electricity supplies. The farm forms part of the Welney Farms Estate which extends to 225 hectares (557 acres). There Council tax band A current charge £1283.16. is one other farm tenant on the estate. Basic Payment Scheme The land is classified as being predominantly The Entitlements belong to the outgoing tenant. Grade 1 on the MAFF Land Classification Plan. The They may be prepared to sell them to the soils are described as deep stoneless clayey silt incoming Tenant. If bought they will be scheduled soils, calcareous in places being suited to sugar as Tenant’s Entitlements in the Farm Business beet, cereals and vegetables in rotation. Tenancy. There are no Landlord’s Entitlements. Use Viewing Day There is no restriction on use. The Council is keen Attendance at the viewing day is now to see applications which include proposals for compulsory if you wish to apply. diversification and environmental enhancement. The farm will be available for inspection on Farm Buildings Tuesday 25 February 2020 between 10.00 am and The Council will explore the possibility of making 4.00 pm. Please ensure that you register your improvements to the buildings and dwelling with arrival to the representative as proof of your visit. the successful applicant. No appointment is necessary and you should ensure you bring a set of particulars with you. Dwelling: a detached bungalow of brick and pantile construction. Accommodation provides Care should be taken to prevent damage to crops three bedrooms, one reception room, kitchen and and to respect the occupation of the farm by the bathroom. EPC rating F. NB, the dwelling is current tenant. currently uninhabitable. Please follow any health and safety advice issued B-Set Building: (18 m x 12 m) concrete framed and on the day. brick clad with sliding doors and concrete floor. Viewing at all other times is strictly prohibited. Implement shed: (13 m x 8 m) of similar construction. Electric power and light to all buildings.

Mains water and single-phase electricity are available to the site. Cropping Details The past three years cropping records are attached to these particulars. Tenant Right Matters The ingoing tenant shall pay to the Council, if due, the full amount of tenant right due to the outgoer.

Proposed Terms of Tenancy Fixtures & Fittings This list is not exhaustive and applicants should Any fixtures, fittings or equipment shown on the familiarise themselves with the specimen tenancy photographs or seen during viewing are not agreement available to download from the necessarily included within the letting. Council’s website. The Council reserves the right Soil Indices to modify the terms of the agreement. A record of the soil indices will be obtained by the TERM – a ten year Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) Landlord at the start of the tenancy. At the end of with effect from 11 October 2020. the term the land must be returned at no lesser BREAK CLAUSE – for the Landlord at the end of value than that recorded at the start of the term. five years; for the Tenant annually from the Method of Letting second year of the tenancy. The farm will be available to let from 11 October EARLY ENTRY – The incoming tenant may have 2020 under a Farm Business Tenancy for an initial early entry for cultivation on any stubbles after term of 10 years. harvest providing the tenancy has been signed. The properties are being let by Informal Tender. BASIC PAYMENT SCHEME ENTITLEMENTS – None Applications must be submitted online via the are offered with the holding. Council’s website by 12 Noon on RENT – payable half yearly in arrears upon 11th Thursday 26 March 2020. October and 6th April in each year. The Council will only accept applications that have RENT REVIEW – every three years to Market Rent been submitted online. in accordance with the provisions of the Applications must be accompanied by a business Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995. plan that contains the following information: USE – the Landlord is willing to consider proposals • from applicants for a range of enterprises. Business name • Business summary – the tenant is to be DYKE MANAGEMENT • Business aims and objectives (you may want to responsible for all dykes except for any main IDB consider how your proposed business supports drains or leading drains. the Council’s management policies) SPORTING – Sporting Rights are reserved to the • Financial summary (to include a tender rent Landlord. and machinery schedule and financial TENANT’S IMPROVEMENTS – improvements by forecasts for the first three years of the the Tenant will only be permitted with the prior proposed business to include cashflow, gross written consent of the Landlord. margins, capital budget, profit and loss ASSIGNMENT– there is a bar on assignment and forecast and sensitivity analysis) sub-letting. • Management strategy • Marketing and sales strategy REPAIRING LIABILITIES – shared between • Targets and timescales Landlord and Tenant. • SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, STAMP DUTY LAND TAX – where applicable the opportunities and threats) ingoing Tenant will be responsible for meeting the • Business strapline costs of having the Agreement stamped. • An elevator pitch in less than 200 words. LAND REGISTRY – the ingoing Tenant will be Applicants are advised to carefully consider the responsible for meeting the costs of registering tenant selection criteria, the County Farms the tenancy with Land Registry. Management Policy and the Stage 1 scoring matrix – all of which are available at www.norfolk.gov.uk/countyfarms.

Viewing Note IMPORTANT NOTICES TO PROSPECTIVE TENANTS The properties are currently working farms. 1. Applicants are reminded that if successful they Viewers should be careful and vigilant whilst on will enter into a legal and binding contract for the holdings. Given the potential hazards of farm the duration of the letting period. Any change buildings we would ask viewers to be as vigilant as of circumstances which might bring earlier possible in making an inspection for their own vacation of the property will leave the Tenant personal safety. responsible for the Landlord’s re-letting costs Neither the Landlord nor the Agents are and rent until such time as a new Tenant is responsible for the safety of those viewing the found. properties and accordingly those viewing the 2. The following events will result in an properties do so at their own risk. applicant’s automatic rejection and The Agents advise that farm dogs may be present disqualification: on some holdings. Therefore, care should be a. Lobbying any Member or Officer of the taken and dogs not approached. County Council, Agents Note b. Failure to attend the viewing day, For clarification we wish to inform prospective c. Applications that have not been received Tenants that we have prepared these Letting online prior to the closing date, particulars as a general guide. Areas and field d. Viewing of the farm outside the viewing references are taken from Ordnance Survey plans day, and digital maps. The plans are published for e. Business plans that have not been illustrative purposes only and although they are submitted in the required format as believed to be correct their accuracy cannot be detailed above. guaranteed. 3. Applicants are reminded that the Estate is All measurements quoted are approximate and there to provide a gateway into agriculture subject to measured survey. for people to farm on their own account. These particulars do not form part of the Attention is especially drawn to the detailed proposed tenancy. Tenant Specification contained within the Guide for Prospective Tenants and the need to demonstrate and evidence that the criteria are met. In particular, it should be noted that:

a. Applications from persons who are already

established farmers in their own right and who intend to run the County Farm as an extension to their existing business, will not be considered in the first instance. This includes those involved in family farms or who already operate substantial agricultural businesses. NB this does not apply to existing tenants on the Estate seeking to progress.

b. Holdings are only available to persons who

are prepared to farm them personally.

Farm & Cropping Schedule Cropping Details Field No. Area Ha (Ac) Use 2018 2019 2020 48 Arable Winter Wheat, Sugar Beet, Spring Spring Barley, 30.14 (73.95) Potatoes, Beans Barley, Winter Sugar Beet Wheat 49 0.49 (1.21) Yard N/A N/A N/A 2010 N/A Bungalow N/A N/A N/A 2011 N/A B-Set N/A N/A N/A 2012 N/A Implement Shed N/A N/A N/A TOTAL 30.416 (75.16)

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FREE FARM APPLICANT TRAINING 2020 Norfolk County Council, in conjunction with Anglia Rural Consultants (ARC), is offering an intensive training course specifically designed to assist new entrants and those unfamiliar with producing a business plan. This free course will be delivered over two sessions from 10am to 4.30pm on Thursday 5 March and Thursday 12 March at South Green Park, Mattishall. There is intense competition for a farm tenancy; not many are available and there are more applicants than tenancies. Landlords will normally ask for a business plan; this will support the application and will demonstrate that the rent tendered can be afforded - it is a key document. It should demonstrate a knowledge of farming and be a realistic summary of the system that the applicant would develop. It should be built on their experience, skills and aspirations and will show that the rent is affordable The course is designed to support those applying for Norfolk County Council farms and will be delivered as a mixture of presentations and individual work produced by the attendees working on their own applications. There will be ample opportunities for discussion and questions. At the end, delegates will feel more confident in their ability to present a strong and convincing application to any potential landlord. Unfortunately, numbers will be restricted to 24 potential applicants, with no more than 2 people/per application (a total of 48 people). We expect demand to be high for this course and wish to underline that this course is designed for new entrants and those who are unfamiliar with preparing a business plan. If you are confident in your ability to produce a plan, then please consider whether this course is appropriate for you. Please note that attendance on the course will not be a factor considered when assessing applications. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. However, if the course is significantly oversubscribed, the Council reserves the right to draw applicants at random. To register for a place, please email [email protected] FROM 9AM MONDAY 3 February (emails received before this will not be registered) with the subject of your email “Farm Applicant Training” and provide your name (together with the name of any partner attending with you) and contact details. To confirm your place, you will need to send a deposit cheque of £100 (cheques made payable to “Norfolk County Council”) to Norfolk County Council, County Farms Team, County Hall, Martineau Lane, , Norfolk, NR1 2DW. Deposits will be reimbursed in full following completion of the course. Closing date 5pm Thursday 27 February 2020.