Introduction Howkins & Harrison has received instructions from the owner to let 148.37 acres (60.05 ha) of arable and pastureland off Badby Lane, Staverton NN11 3DD. It is intended to offer the land on a Farm Business Tenancy for a fixed term of either 3 or 5 years, commencing from 1st November 2024. Early entry to the arable land will be provided to the successful applicant if required.
Location The land is situated southwest of Daventry, on the northern side of Badby Lane and extends northwest towards the A425. Access is via three gated entrances off Badby Lane (WW3 below), with internal trackways facilitating access through the block to the remainder of the land.
The access points from the highway are indicated on the plan below with a black arrow.
Description The land at Malabar Farm extends to approximately 148 acres in all, comprising 63 acres of permanent pasture and 85 acres of arable land, presented in a single block encompassing 11 field parcels. The arable land has historically been farmed in-hand by High Cross Farms, whilst the grassland is currently occupied under two separate grazing licences due to end on 31st October. The grassland is not thought to have been ploughed for many years however conversion into arable will be allowed if the appropriate permissions are obtained. 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 Oats, Wheat, Beans and Fallow, with part of the ground having previously been down to Miscanthus. The arable cropping for the 2024 harvest is all spring oats, with one field of fallow. (Full details are shown below in the cropping schedule).
A map of the holding is shown below together with a cropping schedule.
Schedule of Acreages with Cropping Schedule
Land Classification The land is classified as Grade 3 on the provisional land classification maps.
Soilscape The land is described in the main as Soilscape 18 – a slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid base rich loam and clay soils, with parcels 3031, 2307, 0124 & 4802 described as Soilscape 7 – freely draining slightly acid but base-rich soils.
Services The field water troughs are supplied by a private water supply through third party land, which may be available. Internal boundary fencing of the grassland is in fair, stock proof condition and the Landlord is not intending on undertaking any works to the existing fencing. All outgoings are to be covered by the tenant.
Agri-Environment Schemes The RPA field parcel data will be transferred to the successful tenant, in order to enable them to submit an application for an SFI scheme. The tenant will also be permitted to apply for a Capital Grant agreement for any improvement works deemed necessary to the fencing etc. Both applications will be subject to the approval of the Landlord, but this will not be unreasonably withheld. The historic reference data and de-linked payments are to be retained by High Cross Farms.
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 or 5 years. The proposed terms of the letting will include but are not limited to: i) Term A 3 or 5 year Farm Business Tenancy commencing on 1st November 2024, with the option for early entry to be taken on the arable land if required. ii) 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 (subject to agreed Grazing Licence occupation). iii) Rent The rent will be payable in equal half yearly instalments, upon the signing of the agreement and in advance thereafter on 1st November and 1st April in each year. iv) 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.v) v) 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 hedges on an annual basis in accordance with the relevant legislation. vi) 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. vii) Outgoings The tenant will pay for the water consumed at the land during the term. viii) Tenant’s Improvements Tenant’s improvements will be considered but will only be permitted with the prior written consent of the Landlord. ix) Inspections and surveys The Landlord reserves the right to enter the property to inspect or survey it 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 a non-agricultural use of the Property or an adjoining property and including but not limited to works of surveys, excavation, creating boreholes and sampling. v) 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 hedges on an annual basis in accordance with the relevant legislation. vi) 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. vii) Outgoings The tenant will pay for the water consumed at the land during the term. viii) Tenant’s Improvements Tenant’s improvements will be considered but will only be permitted with the prior written consent of the Landlord. ix) 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 a non-agricultural use of the Property or an adjoining property and including but not limited to works of surveys, excavation, creating boreholes and sampling. x) 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). We will consider a joint application by two tenderers, assuming one for the arable and one for the grass. xi) Determination of the tenancy The Landlord may determine this Agreement in respect of all or part of the Property by serving on the Tenant at least three moths’ 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 trees with full right to inspect lop and fell trees and stack load and transport timber (including thinnings 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 and 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 aforesaid 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.
Viewing Days Viewing days are to be advised once the current crop has been harvested – please contact us (details below) to register your intention to view.
Tender Tenders are to be received by Noon on Tuesday 1st October 2024 in writing or by email to tim.howard@howkinsandharrison.co.uk & peter.osborne@howkinsandharrison.co.uk
Interview Successful applicants will be notified, and it is intended that if required, interviews to discuss the tender will take place at the Howkins & Harrison office in Rugby on either the 7th or 8th October – times to be confirmed.
Contact For further information, please contact: Tim Howard – 07966 321528 tim.howard@howkinsandharrison.co.uk Or Peter Osborne – 07711 018970 peter.osborne@howkinsandharrison.co.uk
Tender 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 or put in an envelope marked ‘MALABAR – FBT TENDER’ and is received prior to Noon Tuesday 1st October 2024. Service via email to tim.howard@howkinsandharrison.co.uk & peter.osborne@howkinsandharrison.co.uk is acceptable.
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.
