Bell Lane, Biddenden, Ashford, Kent, TN27

This immaculately presented small farm includes a desirable building plot - James Hickman, Rural Property & Land

#TheGardenOfEngland

A rare opportunity to purchase a small grassland farm situated in a rural hamlet between Biddenden and Smarden comprising a traditional style 3 bedroomed farmhouse subject to Agricultural Occupancy Condition (AOC*) constructed in 2014 to a high standard set within about 9.10 acres and including a useful range of agricultural buildings, traditional orchard, woodland garden and ponds.

Also, having the benefit of planning permission for a 4 bedroom detached dwelling set within its own grounds including a wooded shaw and its own separate private gated entrance with tree lined avenue.

*NB – The building plot, the land and the buildings are not subject to the AOC.

Freehold - Council Tax Band is TBV (see ‘Additional Information’ below)

About 9.10 acres

Guide Price £1,400,000 for the farmhouse, agricultural buildings, farmland and adjoining building plot (coloured red on plan).

**The sellers will consider splitting if someone just wished to buy the farmhouse and land.

Ashenden Barn

In addition, there is a separate 2 bedroom barn conversion next to the property set within its own garden with a separate entrance - Guide Price £600,000



Farmhouse

Ground Floor: Entrance porches front/rear; Sitting room with inglenook fireplace and wood burning stove; traditional farmhouse kitchen with Aga; entrance hall and utility room, traditional oak doors and beamed ceilings throughout including bespoke oak staircase. Leaded light casement windows.

First Floor: Three double bedrooms, family bathroom.

Second Floor: Part converted loft space with gable windows

Proposed New Dwelling

Ground Floor: Living Room Kitchen/Dining Room Utility Room Bedroom/Study Bedroom Hall WC
First Floor: Main Bedroom with En Suite Shower 2 Further Bedrooms with Family Bathroom

Outside: Woodland garden; ponds; traditional orchard; double garage; range of agricultural buildings with concrete yard and paddocks.

Situation

Ashenden Farm is situated in a small rural hamlet between the popular pretty villages of Biddenden and Smarden. The Weald of Kent is amongst the most attractive countryside in the county and is host to some of the prettiest villages and towns including Tenterden and Headcorn. The area is especially well served by stations on the mainline to London including at Headcorn or alternatively highspeed services from Ashford International. There are a number of public and private schools for all ages within easy reach including Cranbrook.

The Farmhouse

The house was constructed in 2014 to a high standard using local traditional materials.

Farm Buildings

There are 3 very useful farm buildings which comprise:

1) Barn, about 55’9 x 23’5.

2) Barn, about 38’9 x 13’2.

3) Cart Barn about 21’5 x 18’3.

The 2 barns are well constructed buildings which are located within the farmyard to the front of the farmhouse. NB - If the new dwelling is constructed then these 2 buildings have to be dismantled.

4) Stable Building, about 46’2 x 25’11, this is in the field just to the north of the farmhouse and might have potential for other uses subject to planning permission.

Planning

1) Planning consent was granted by Ashford Borough Council for the farmhouse on 16th October 2006 under planning reference 06/001153/AS and was completed in 2014. The farmhouse is subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition, which states “the occupation of the dwelling shall be limited to a person solely or mainly working or last working in the locality in agriculture (as defined in Section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) or forestry or a widow or widower of such a person and to any resident dependents”.

Section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 states: -
‘Agriculture includes horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming, the breeding and keeping of livestock (including any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land), the use of land as grazing land, meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds and the use of land for woodlands, where that use is ancillary to the farming of land for other agricultural purposes and agricultural shall be construed accordingly.’

2)

a) Planning Consent for the Building Plot was granted on 22nd June 2020 under Planning Reference 20/00430/AS and was based on the complete removal of the 2 farm buildings in front of the farmhouse. The proposed new dwelling was to be built with traditional material with timber clad elevations under a Kent Peg tile roof.

b) Planning consent was granted later that year on 18th December 2020 to reposition the proposed dwelling in a slightly different location to the north. The sellers have completed the construction of the footings making the consent a live consent which can be completed at a future a date.

For full details of the planning consents granted for Ashenden Farm go to:

For further any planning enquiries then please contact Ashford Borough Council (ashford.gov.uk).

Outside

The property is approached off Bell Lane via a double gated entrance through the concrete farmyard to a gravel drive providing access to the house and double garage. There is a second entrance with a tree lined avenue which will also serve the building plot in the future.

Land

The land comprises hedged and shawed pasture fields and a former orchard.

Development Overage

Part of the land shown colour washed pink on the plan will be sold subject to a development overage for a period of 25 years from completion, based on an overage amount of 25%. ‘’The overage trigger will be the implementation of any residential development taking place on the sale of all or part of the property with the benefit of planning permission for residential development.’’

Soil Type

Soilscape 18 on the Land Information System Website.

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Footpaths

There are NO footpaths crossing or affecting the farm. For further information go to:


Services

Mains water, mains electricity and private drainage septic tank

Additional Information

*Mobile Signal: EE, Three, O2
*Broadband: BT & Sky
*Flood Risk: Very Low
Council Tax: The owners are in correspondence with Ashford Borough Council regarding the verification of the council tax.

*Data courtesy of Sprift via OnTheMarket.

Viewing

Strictly by appointment through Hobbs Parker Estate Agents at our Ashford office on or our Tenterden office on .

Our Ref: FAL250030