Wiltshire's Rural Estate currently extends to 2,185 hectares (5,400 acres) with 36 equipped farms, 9 cottages and numerous parcels of bare land. The estate is primarily pasture based and the majority of the farms are let for dairying purposes.
The Rural Estate mainly comprises of dairy farms with an average size of 49 hectares (122 acres) which are predominantly located in the northern half of the County. The non dairy units are let as arable, beef or outdoor pig units some on a part and others on a full-time basis. Tenants on many of the smaller farms have been encouraged to diversify and the estate supports a wide range of other rural enterprises which all support the County’s Rural Economy. Enterprises include DIY and full livery, machinery sales, Christmas tree sales, firewood/log supplies, Christmas turkey production and sales to name a few.
Rents on the estate vary from £75 per hectare (£30 per acre) for seasonal short-term grass keep type lets to over £370 per hectare (£150 per acre) on the larger dairy farms.
Eligibility
The County Farms Service does not hold a waiting list, but keeps details of interested parties on a mailing list. The purpose of the mailing list is to inform prospective applicants of available farms without them having to rely on seeing the relevant advert in the farming press. To register your interest please email us at ruralestates@wiltshire.gov.uk
Contact Details (LiveLink)
Multiple Contacts:
eMail: ruralestates@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01225 713238
Out of hours:
Fax:
Postal Address:
Rural Estate Manager
Strategic Property
Department
of Resources
Wiltshire
Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14
8JN
In Person:
DX:
Related links
- Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs DEFRA
- Environment Agency
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors RICS
- Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
- Multi Agency Geographical Information for the Countryside
Last updated: 12 July 2011
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