Opportunity to rent a Dorset Council starter stock farm being a former dairy comprising a Farmhouse and Farm Buildings together with the associated 101.30 acres (40.99ha) available as a whole.

To be let on a 12 year Farm Business Tenancy looking to commence on 25th March 2026.

Applications invited by 12 noon on Wednesday 18th February 2026.

The holding may be inspected on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 between 10am to 3pm with the Agents who will be available to answer any questions. Viewings of the house will be by an allocated appointed time so all prospective applications are to register their interest before the viewing day. All those attending thew viewing day are to register and sign the Health and Safety Assessment. All persons wishing to view the property do so at their own risk. Neither the Landlord nor Agents will be held liable for any damage or injury that may occur when interested parties are visiting the property.



Higher Wooth Farm enters the market for let for the first time in 33 years. In need of investment to be used to its full potential, this exciting opportunity has arisen for new entrants to take on this former dairy farm on a 12-year term as a stock farm extending in total to 103.58 acres (41.90ha).

LOCATION
The holding is located to the northern outskirts of the rural village of Wooth on the fringe of the thriving market town of Bridport. The farmstead is surrounded by miles of countryside with the rolling hills being amongst the Dorset National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding natural Beauty) and is conveniently located 1.80 miles to the north of Bridport hosting an excellent variety of independent shops, supermarkets, pubs, with surrounding educational facilities, and provides the gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The farm is located 14.70 miles east to Axminster (A35), 16.20 miles west to the County Town of Dorchester (A35) and 17.70 miles south of Yeovil via the A37 offering wider network links to the A303 and M5.

FARMHOUSE
Constructed in circa 1930s, Higher Wooth is a detached 3bedroom farmhouse span across two storeys comprising red brick under a pitched slate roof with double glazed units throughout. The property benefited from an extension to the west under the flat roof to the kitchen and dining room.

The internal decoration to the property requires attention and modernisation, with the ground floor accommodation comprising a kitchen/dining room overlooking the agricultural buildings with floor and wall mounted units, sitting room with Woodburner and farm office. Completing the downstairs is the family bathroom situated on the first step from the staircase. The sitting room and farm office are well proportioned and overlooking the rear garden with the adjoining agricultural land beyond. Stairs ascent to the first floor comprises two double bedrooms, and a smaller single room with restricted height to some elevations. The bedrooms all benefit from views across the surrounding agricultural land. The house benefits from a wraparound garden providing views across the farmstead to the east, south and west enclosed by the earth bank and post and wire fencing. To the front of the property there is hardcore car parking away from the agricultural yard.

AGRICULTURAL BUILINGS
Continuing up the concrete track past the house are the buildings at Higher Wooth, which were formerly used for dairy production. The farmstead comprises predominately steel framed structures with a number of timber structures, and generally 1960 – 70s construction finished in asbestos cement sheeting. The main holding sits to the west of the farmhouse comprising a range of agricultural buildings to include Dutch Barn, former dairy, youngstock housing, cubicle houses equipped with 52 cubicles, earth banked slurry lagoon, machinery and fodder stores all serviced by the surrounding concrete yards and hard-core areas; the buildings are further described in Schedule 1 extending to 2.18 acres (0.88ha). The buildings are accessed over the single, concrete drive servicing the farmhouse to the north of the holding from the highway.

LAND
The land extends in total to 101.30 acres (40.99ha), split by the road into two ring-fenced manageable and accessible units with good size, workable enclosures comprising ample water troughs, and are predominantly enclosed by mature hedgerows, post and wire fencing and the block to the east is further enclosed by the River Immediately adjoining and surrounding the farm buildings are 64.15 acres (25.96ha) of pasture comprising level lying and sloping ground being Grade I on the Agricultural Land Classification Maps of England, divided into 6 good sized workable enclosures having an ample amount of water troughs, enclosed by recently cut hedgerows and livestock fencing to part. The soil to the west is freely draining slightly acid loamy to together with low fertility and carbon levels. The land to the east of the highway contains slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage, moderate to high fertility and low carbon.

The remaining 37.15 acres (15.03ha) split into 7 enclosures being a manageable and accessible unit are situated to the east with direct road access from the highway being a ring-fenced block of level lying, and gently sloping pastureland with a combination of Grade I land to the west, with the west comprising Grade III.

DESIGNATIONS
The holding is located within the Dorset National Landscape but is not in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone.

SERVICES
Higher Wooth Farm Farmhouse: EPC rating G (until 18 December 2026), mains water and electric and septic tank.

Higher Wooth Farm Buildings: Private water supply (spring fed) and electric.

Higher Wooth Farm Land: Private water supply (spring fed)

Dorset Council are to instruct a contractor to produce the EICR.

RIGHTS OF WAY, EASEMENTS, ETC
No rights of way transverse the land.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES
The Council is encouraging prospective applicants to review the available Environmental Land Management schemes and capital grants.
The land is entered into a Sustainable Farming Incentive Agreement from 1st June 2024 to 31st May 2027 to include the following options:
SAM1: Assess soil, produce a soil management plan, and test soil organic matter
NUM2: Legumes on improved grassland
IGL2: Winter bird food on improved grassland
Sustainable Farming Incentive Agreements cannot be transferred. The agreement is being reviewed and will be terminated by the Tenants Agent.

OUTGOINGS
The Tenant is to contribute to the Environment Agency Water Extraction Licence being responsible for 50% of the £90 annual payment (£45 payable).

METHOD OF LETTING
The farm will be let on a 12-year term with a draft copy of the agreement available on the viewing day. The farm is to be let by application with the packs available to be completed in full and returned with all supporting documentation to the Agents, Greenslade Taylor Hunt, 45 High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1UT, marked ‘Council Let Application – Higher Wooth Farm, Bridport’ by 12 noon on Wednesday 18th February 2025. Applications are to be completed in full to be considered and the farm will be let as a whole.

Upon receipt of the tenders, Greenslade Taylor Hunt in collaboration with Dorset Council will compile a shortlist of candidates. Those candidates will be invited for an interview.

RECORD OF CONDITION
A Record of Condition will be produced at the expense of the incoming Tenant at the commencement of this Agreement. If so desired by the Landlords.

CONDITION OF LETTING
The successful applicant will be required to enter into the tenancy for a 12-year term with entry no later than 25th March 2026. The tenancy is not likely to be extended (except in exceptional circumstances) in order to enable the turnover of opportunities for other tenants entering and moving through the sector.

Each party will bear their own costs. The incoming Tenant will be liable for registering the lease and the paying of any necessary stamp duty.

STARTER FARM
Dorset Council are offering Higher Wooth as a Starter Farm, to invite applicants the opportunity to take financial and managerial control of their own farming business for the first time.
Those wishing to apply must have 5 years’ experience; this can include 3 years in education with 2 years’ experience.

The aim is to provide opportunities and support for new farmers committed to sustainable agricultural and horticultural practices and sustainable food production.

Dorset Council’s Farm Strategy offers the below guidance on the definition of Starter Farm:
The only way of achieving a successful long-term policy of starter farms is to operate them within a rigid structure, which is clear and fair to all parties. There should be a fixed term length that gives the tenant clarity around business planning as well as facilitating a realistic turnover of tenants.

The Council will therefore operate a maximum of a 12-year term for new starter farm tenancies, with clear communication from the outset that this is fixed in order to ensure adequate turnover so the opportunity can be subsequently made available to others.

Food production and the skills required to deliver high quality, high welfare agricultural goods within the context of environmental enhancement will be the focus for starter farms.
However, the Council will view starter farms as the potential to offer wider agricultural based rural business opportunities as well as the more traditional dairy or other livestock-based enterprises.

Under section 39 of the Agricultural Act 1970 it states that the general aim of statutory smallholding authorities is: “In the performance of their functions under this Part of this Act smallholdings authorities, having regard to the general interests of agriculture and of good estate management, shall make it their general aim to provide opportunities for persons to be farmers on their own account by letting holdings …”

TENANTS FIXTURES
The incoming Tenant will be obliged to take over certain stipulated items. Further details in Schedule 1.

VIEWING DAY
The holding may be inspected on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 between 10am to 3pm with the Agents who will be in. Viewings of the house will be by an allocated appointed time so all prospective applications are to register their interest before the viewing day.

NOTICE OF GUIDANCE FOR PROSPETIVE TENANTS
Please note that Dorset Council will not be bound to accept the highest rent offered or any application for the tenancy. All prospective applicants must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise the accuracy of the statements contained within these particulars.
For applications to be considered all prospective applicants should include the application pack documents for their proposals of the running of the farm. In brief these should include: -
Farm Application Pack: Application Form
Farm Application Pack: Bank Reference Enquiry Request
Farm Application Pack: Animal Welfare Information Request
Farm Application Pack: 2-year Budget
Farm Application Pack: Cash Flow
A separate schedule showing details of stock and machinery available to the Tenant.

Written details of the proposed method of farming the unit including the likely stock numbers, cropping of the farm and labour requirements .

Written details of any proposed Environmental Land Management or Grant Funded schemes.

HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICE
All those attending thew viewing day are to register and sign the Health and Safety Assessment. All persons wishing to view the property do so at their own risk. Neither the Landlord nor Agents will be held liable for any damage or injury that may occur when interested parties are visiting the property.

WHAT.3.WORDS ///STRUCK.PRODUCERS.SNOWSTORM

LETTING AGENT:
Greenslade Taylor Hunt, 45 High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1UT
Tel: Email: mollie.