Lot 1 – 0.61 Hectares – Offers Over £150,000
Lot 2 – 47.67 Hectares – Offers Over £700,000
Lot 3 – 4.20 Hectares – Offers Over £80,000
Lot 4 – 3.16 Hectares – Offers Over £45,000
Lot 5 – 5.34 Hectares – Offers Over £50,000
Lot 6 – 37.56 Hectares – Offers Over £550,000
Lot 7 – 6.48 Hectares – Offers Over £95,000
Lot 8 – 5.49 Hectares – Offers Over £90,000
Location
Balchimmy Farm occupies an attractive and accessible position near Cushnie in rural Aberdeenshire, in the gently rolling countryside south of the Howe of Alford. The market town of Alford lies approximately seven miles to the north, providing day-to-day services including shops, a primary school and secondary school. The city of Aberdeen, with its airport, mainline rail connections and full range of amenities, is around a 40-minute drive to the east.
The surrounding area is well-established farming country, characterised by a productive mix of livestock and arable enterprises, and the property sits within easy reach of agricultural merchants, contractors and markets serving the wider region. Despite its rural setting, the farm is conveniently placed for the towns of Inverurie and Huntly and the main road network, offering a rare combination of seclusion and connectivity.
Directions and Access
From Alford, head south on the A980 signed Muir of Fowlis. After approximately three miles, turn right onto the public road signed Ley. Turn left and follow the road for approximately one mile, where the entrance to Balchimmy Farm will be found as shown on the sale plan.
Postcode: AB33 8LE, please note that satellite navigation may not direct visitors precisely to the farm entrance.
The farm benefits from good, direct access off the public road network, well suited to the movement of agricultural machinery, livestock floats and large vehicles. Internally, a network of farm tracks provides serviceable access to the main blocks of land and steadings, allowing efficient day-to-day management across the holding.
Description
Balchimmy extends to approximately 110.51 hectares (273.08 acres) and is offered for sale in eight lots, as shown on the sale plan.
The holding combines arable and grassland with a farm steading and a residential development opportunity. Predominantly free-draining brown soils, classified by the James Hutton Institute as Land Capability for Agriculture Grades 4.1 and 4.2, support a mixed farming rotation. Recent management has included spring barley, temporary grass and Ecological Focus Area (EFA) fallow.
Lot 1 – Farmhouse, Buildings and Residential Development
A three-bedroom farmhouse and two adjoining general-purpose agricultural buildings, with planning permission for their demolition and replacement with four modern houses.
The buildings extend to approximately 39m × 29m and 32m × 19m. The larger has stone walls with Yorkshire boarding, while the smaller is of steel portal-frame construction
with part-stone walls and Yorkshire boarding. Both have corrugated roofs.
Further details of the planning permission are provided on the following page.
Lot 2 – Farmland and Steading
A substantial block of arable and grassland surrounding a farm steading, comprising:
• Silage clamp: approximately 60m × 15m, with earth walls and a concrete floor.
• Machinery shed: approximately 20m × 6m, of steel portal-frame construction with concrete panel walls.
• General-purpose building: approximately 41m × 9m, of steel portal-frame construction with concrete panel and corrugated sheet walls.
• Modern livestock building: approximately 73m × 12m, of steel-frame construction with corrugated side walls. All three buildings have concrete floors and corrugated sheet roofs.
Lot 3 – Level Grass Paddock
A level grass paddock suitable for livestock grazing or equestrian use.
Lot 4 – Grazing Land
A separate grass field suitable for grazing livestock or horses.
Lot 5 – Grass Paddock
A grass field suitable for livestock grazing or equestrian use.
Lot 6 – Arable and Grassland
Two well-shaped arable fields of a practical working size, both of which have recently produced good crops of spring barley, together with a grass field suitable for grazing.
Lots 7 and 8 – Individual Grass Paddocks
Two separate grass fields, each offered as an individual lot and suitable for livestock grazing or equestrian use. Their respective areas and guide prices are set out in the lotting
table, with boundaries shown on the sale plan.
Development potential
Lots 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 may offer potential for residential dwellings, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents. No formal investigations have been undertaken to
establish this potential, and purchasers should make their own enquiries.
Planning Permission — Lot 1
Full Planning Permission was granted by Aberdeenshire Council on 31 March 2026 (ref. APP/2025/0665) for the demolition of the existing farmhouse and agricultural buildings and the erection of four dwellinghouses at Balchimmy steading The consent represents regeneration the steading. The permission replaces the farmhouse — originally dating from around the 1850s but substantially altered in the 1970s, together with disused 1960s/70s slatted cattle courts, adjoining sheds and associated agricultural infrastructure. In their place, four detached houses are consented, arranged in a traditional courtyard layout designed to sit comfortably within the rural setting. The combined footprint of the new houses is materially smaller than that of the buildings they replace, with the scheme delivering additional landscaping, new hedgerows and tree planting, and the removal of redundant hardstanding and silage towers.
The development is served entirely by private infrastructure appropriate to its rural location. Each plot has its own package sewage treatment plant discharging to soakaway, drawing on a private water supply serving the site, with sustainable drainage arrangements for surface water. Heating is provided by air source heat pumps, and each house benefits from electric vehicle charging provision, with the houses designed to a modern, energy-efficient standard incorporating photovoltaic panels. Vehicular access is taken from the adopted road along the eastern boundary via a new access and lay-by, with parking and turning within each plot.
The houses are two-storey in form, finished in buttermilk render with anthracite grey Cedral cladding, natural slate roofs, and anthracite grey windows, doors and rainwater goods. Plots 3 and 4 provide generous four-bedroom family accommodation over two floors, with an integral garage, open-plan family and dining space, a separate lounge and dining room, and en-suite and family bathrooms at first floor. Approved plans are also in place for plots 1 and 2, offering a purchaser a consented scheme across all four plots.
The permission runs for three years from the date of decision, lapsing on 31 March 2029 unless development is begun within that period. It is subject to a number of standard conditions for a rural development of this type, including a predemolition photographic building survey, a contaminated land site investigation, formation of access visibility splays and a lay-by, a water safety and management plan and private water treatment system for each house, and an Energy Statement for each house.
Full details of the consent, approved plans and conditions are available from the selling agent upon request.
BPS Entitlements
The vendor’s Basic Payment Scheme entitlements will be transferred to the purchaser at completion. Further details, including the number and region of entitlements, are available from the selling agents.
Boundaries
Neighbouring boundaries are to be maintained to a stockproof condition with neighbouring land owners at 50:50 basis.
Wayleaves & Third-Party Rights
The property will be sold with the benefit of, and subject to, all existing rights and burdens within the Titles.
Mineral Rights
The mineral rights are included in the freehold sale in so far as they are owned.
Sporting Rights
The sporting rights are unlet and included in the sale.
