Lower Road, Teynham, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9

A rare opportunity to acquire an arable and grassland farm with 2 dwellings and over 300 acres - James Hickman, Farms & Rural Property

#TheGardenOfEngland

A mixed arable and grassland farm situated in a rural location close to the Swale Estuary and situated on the outskirts of the village of Teynham with easy access to Sittingbourn, Faversham & A2/M2.

The farm comprises a modern 5-bedroom farmhouse, a separate 3 bedroom refurbished detached bungalow, farm buildings, mostly Grade I arable land and grazing land.

In all about 309.50 acres

Freehold - Council Tax Bands C

Guide Price £3,350,000


Situation

The farm is situated off Lower Road on the outskirts of Teynham village (approximately 0.9 miles to the south east), offering a range of amenities including a convenience stores, public houses, a primary school and a train station providing services into London from 70 minutes. The former market town of Faversham is approximately 6 miles away with its attractive town centre shopping and railway station with services to London St Pancras from 1 hour 10 minutes. The town of Sittingbourne is approximately 3.3 miles to the west and provides a more extensive variety of services and facilities, with a shopping centre and superstores. The M2/A2 is accessible from junctions 5 & 6.

** Access – Important Note

The main access into the farm is via a gated manually operated railway crossing (telephone request). There is secondary access via 2 railway underpasses with restricted width & height (approx. 2.6m height restriction). Viewers are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution and follow the access protocols when using the railway crossing or alternatively use the underpasses.

Lower Frognall Farmhouse

A detached 5-bedroom farmhouse constructed in the late 1980’s and offering accommodation over 2400 sq ft and incorporating a double garage. The house is set in lawned gardens, of about 0.60 acre with an outlook and views over the adjoining arable fields.

The farmhouse is subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition (AOC) – refer to the “Planning” section below for further details.

Lower Frognall Farm Bungalow

Fully refurbished in 2019, and believed to be of Woolaway prefabricated concrete construction erected in the mid 1970s. The bungalow offers about 810 sq ft of accommodation and includes a mainly lawned garden which surrounds the property with off road parking for at least one vehicle to the side.

The bungalow is also subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition (AOC) – refer to the “Planning” section for further details.
Farm Buildings

There are 2 separate groups of farm buildings providing a total of just over 16,000 square feet of covered space.

It is felt that one or two of the buildings may have potential for conversion to dwellings under Class Q of the Permitted Development regulations. The sellers have never approached the Local Authority to ascertain whether the buildings would be suitable or submitted an application.

Potential purchasers must make their own planning enquiries either direct to Swale District Council ( or to a planning consultant.

Lower Yard

Located adjacent to the main farm access and bungalow, these buildings comprise:

1. General Purpose Tyler Barn, about 60’ x 60’

2. Timber Store, about 38’ x 6’4

Upper Yard

Beyond the Lower Yard and adjoining the main farm access track and comprises:

3. General Purpose Barn, about 100’ x 40’

4. Charcon Building, about 60’ x 40’

5. 3 x Loose Boxes, about 40’ x 16’2

6. Lambing Barn, about 97’ x 55’3, now dilapidated.

Planning

Lower Frognall Farmhouse is subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition (AOC) under planning reference SW/86/274. Condition vi. of the consent states that “the occupation of the dwelling shall be limited to a person solely or mainly employed, locally in agriculture as defined in Section 290 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 or in forestry and any dependent of such a person residing with him (but including a widow or widower of such a person)”.

Lower Frognall Farm Bungalow is subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition (AOC) which was permitted under appeal to the Secretary of State under planning refence SW/74/0861. The appeal document states that “the occupation of the dwelling shall be limited to a person solely or mainly employed, locally in agriculture as defined in Section 290 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 or in forestry and any dependent of such a person residing with him (but including a widow or widower of such a person)”.

Copies of the relevant planning documents are available on request.

Land

The land surrounds the farmhouse and buildings and extends north towards the Swale Estuary, accessed from the main farm track.

The land comprises a mixture of mostly productive Grade I arable land parcels and permanent grassland. There is a small area of low-lying marsh to the north of the farm towards Conyer.

Area Summary Area (ac) Area (ha)

Arable 98.27 39.77

Permanent Grassland 185.91 75.24

Tracks, buildings, yards, shaws, water etc 25.32 10.25

It should be noted that the majority of permanent pasture was previously in arable production and is drained and therefore may offer the opportunity for cultivation subject to the necessary consents.

Part of the land is entered into a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement with focus on the grazing land and marshes. This agreement is held by the tenant.

The land previously benefited from an EA abstraction licence from the Frognall Drain.

Tenancies

Bungalow: The property is subject to an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) at a current rent of £1,000 pcm until the end of October 2024.

Farmland and buildings: These are subject to a Farm Business Tenancy with a fixed term until the 29th September 2032. There is a tenant break as at the 29th September 2028. The current rent is £31,000 per annum.

**The tenant has indicated to the Landlord that they may consider an early termination of the tenancy (subject to agreement) if required by a purchaser.

Copies of the tenancy agreements are available on request.

Soils

Land Grade: The land is classified as part Grade I and part Grade IV

Soil Type: Soilscapes 6 and 21 (

Designations

There are no statutory designations.

Footpaths

There are no footpaths or Public Rights of Way crossing the property.

Health and Safety

Prospective purchasers must have regard for their own safety whilst viewing. Neither the sellers nor Hobbs Parker Estate Agents accept any responsibility for any accident or injury as a result of viewing the property.

** Viewers must follow the access protocols over the railway crossing.

Acreage, Plans & Boundaries

The plan on these sales particulars and the acreages quoted are strictly for identification and guidance only. The boundaries shown on the plans in these particulars have been prepared by reference to digital Ordnance Survey data.

Interested parties are reminded that the property is sold in accordance with the owners Land Registry Title plan/s, and they must satisfy themselves as to the boundaries and the quantity of land being purchased. Any error or mistake shall not annul the sale or entitle any party to compensation thereof.

Services

House: Mains water (via private supply), mains electricity. Oil fired boiler, private drainage (believed septic tank).

Bungalow: Mains water (via private supply), mains electricity, electric panel heaters, private drainage (believed septic tank).

Buildings: Electricity and water.

EE/BT Broadband, 3/Vodaphone Mobile reception.

Viewing

Viewings are strictly by appointment only through our Ashford office on or our Tenterden office on .

Our Ref: FAL240066