Howkins & Harrison has received instructions from the owner to let 293.16 acres (118.64 ha) of arable and pastureland off Kelmarsh Road, Market Harborough, LE16 9RY. It is intended to offer the land on a Farm Business Tenancy for a fixed term of three years, commencing 1st September 2025. A holdover clause will be present to allow the current contractor to remove their crops if required.
Furthermore, there will be an option to utilise the farm buildings on a separate Building Licence should the purchaser desire. Please note the farm buildings, unless utilised via separate Building Licence are not to form part of the Farm Business Tenancy.
Location:
The land is situated south of Market Harborough and extends northeast towards the A508. There are several access points to the blocks of land, each via gated entrances; access to the main block of grassland is via the farmyard, with the arable land being accessible off the Kelmarsh Road and the A508. The entrance points are marked in yellow on the below plan and are situated at the following points:
The land at Grasslands Farm extends to approximately 293 acres in all comprising approximately 265.36 acres of arable land, 23.68 acres of permanent pasture and 4.12 acres of woodland and scrubland. Please note that part of the land is subject to a Countryside Stewardship agreement, which is due to terminate as of 31st December 2025.
The grassland is not thought to have been ploughed in several years and contains ridge and furrow throughout, so would not be suitable for conversion into arable. It is therefore intended that the sub-letting of the pastureland will be permitted by an annual Grazing License if desired, subject to the approval of the Landlord.
The arable land has been farmed in a rotation containing a combination of Spring Beans, Spring Barley, Herbage Seeds, Oats and Wheat (Full details are shown below in the cropping schedule). The arable cropping for the 2025 harvest is down to Wheat. Part of the land has been down to Winter Bird Seed in accordance with the existing Countryside Stewardship scheme which is due to end on 31st December 2025.
The land is classified as Grade 3 on the provisional land classification maps.
Soilscape:
The land is described as Soilscape 9 – a lime rich loam and clay soil with impeded drainage.
Services
Field water troughs
Internal boundary fencing of the grassland is in fair, stockproof condition and the Landlord is not intending on undertaking any works on the existing fencing.
All outgoings are to be covered by the tenant.
Rights of Way
Please note that a footpath crosses field parcels 4693, 0655 and 2541 along the route shown on the attached plan.
Agri-Environment Schemes
The RPA field parcel data will be transferred to the successful tenant, to enable them to apply for any capital or revenue grant funding that may be introduced during the term of the agreement. Any applications will be subject to the approval of the Landlord, but this will not be unreasonably withheld.
Proposed Terms of the Tenancy:
The terms of the tenancy will be recorded in a written Farm Business Tenancy with a fixed term of either 3 years. Prospective tenants will have the option on Lots 1, 2 or the whole. The proposed terms of the letting will include but are not limited to:
Term:
A 3-year Farm Business Tenancy commencing 1st September 2025, with a holdover clause in place if required to remove the previous years cropping. If removed earlier, early entry will be offered to the successful party.
Use:
The use of the property is to be restricted to agricultural purposes only for the growing of arable crops or grazing/mowing of pasture in connection with the tenant’s own trade or business and for no other purpose.
Rent:
The rent will be payable in equal half yearly instalments, upon the signing of the agreement and in advance thereafter on 1st September and 1st March in each year.
Rent Review:
The rent will be fixed for the initial three-year term of the tenancy and will be eligible for review in the 4th year, in accordance with the review period of the Agricultural Tenancies Act.
Repairs:
All maintenance and repairing responsibilities for tracks, culverts, ditches, drains, hedges and fences are to be the responsibility of the tenant, including the cutting and trimming of all hedgerows on an annual basis in accordance with the relevant legislation.
Insurance:
The tenant will be responsible for ensuring that an appropriate public liability insurance policy is in place for the duration of the term, and a copy supplied to the landlord.
Outgoings:
The tenant will pay for the water consumed at the land during the term.
Tenant’s Improvements:
Tenant’s improvements will be considered but will only be permitted with the prior written consent of the landlord.
Inspections and Surveys:
The landlord reserves the right to enter the property to inspect or survey the property and will compensate the tenant for any damage caused.
The landlord reserves the right to enter, inspect and survey the Property at any reasonable time upon giving reasonable prior notice (which shall be at least 48 hours except in an emergency) as may be required for or ancillary to the purposes of an application for planning permission for non-agricultural use of the property or an adjoining property and including but not limited to works of surveys, excavation, creating boreholes and sampling.
Assignment:
The ‘sub-letting’ of the grassland will be permitted by Grazing Licence if required, subject to the landlord’s approval of the occupier and stock type and number (this will not be unreasonably withheld).
Determination of tenancy:
The landlord may determine this Agreement in respect of all or part of the property by serving on the tenant at least three months written notice due to a requirement for Landlord’s own use or planning permission being obtained on all or part of the property.
Note: no planning permissions have been applied for and the land is not currently in any form of development agreement.
Rights Reserved by the Landlord:
All fruit trees and timber with full right to inspect lop and fell trees and stack load and transport timber (including thinning’s cordwood and underwood) felled on the property the landlord doing as little damage as possible.
All mines and minerals and mineral substances with the right of access to survey for this doing as little damage as possible.
The right to enter inspect and survey the property at any reasonable time upon giving reasonable prior notice (which shall be at least 48 hours except in an emergency) as may be required for or ancillary to the purposes of an application for planning permission for a non-agricultural use of the property or an adjoining property and including but not limited to works of excavation creating boreholes and sampling.
All game at wildfowl including nests and eggs of the same and (subject to the provisions of the Ground Game Act 1880 and the Ground Game (Amendment) Act 1906) and hares with the exclusive right subject as foresaid for the Landlord and all persons authorised by him to preserve the same and to hunt shoot and sport on the property.
The benefit of all existing and the right to grant future wayleaves easements and rights affecting the property and all rents and monies payable in respect thereof except payments specifically to the occupier in respect of disturbance to agricultural occupation (as for an electricity wayleave) which the Landlord will assist the Tenant to receive and where the Landlord receives such a payment in respect of agricultural occupation he shall pass that payment on to the Tenant.
Farm Buildings:
Offers on the buildings will be considered, however please be aware these would form part of a separate 12-month Building Licence and NOT part of the Farm Business Tenancy. Please indicate your interest by stating the building number(s) and your offer within the tender form below.
Viewing Days:
The viewing date will be Wednesday 21st May between the hours of 10am – 5pm.
A form of tender is shown below with the information required listed.
The farmer is not obliged to accept the highest or indeed any offer. Whilst it is intended to proceed on the basis as shown below, other agreement proposals will be considered.
PLEASE ENSURE that your TENDER FORM is emailed of put in an envelope marked ‘GRASSLANDS FARM – FBT TENDER’ and is received prior to 5pm on Monday 2nd June 2025.
Felicity joined the marketing team for Howkins & Harrison to drive forward the social media and digital presence of the business following roles within both residential sales & lettings. Felicity joined Howkins & Harrison in the Rugby Letting department in January 2017 as Property Manager for the managed portfolio. Felicity is passionate about sharing the services of the H&H team and providing support to clients in the marketing of the land & property.
