Cheston Lane, South Brent

DESCRIPTION  

A rare opportunity to acquire approximately one acre of orchard and historic horticultural land on the outskirts of South Brent, within Dartmoor National Park.

The property offers an unusual combination of approximately 80 apple trees, including eating, cooking and cider varieties, pear and crab apple trees, a lockable former nursery building, roadside access with a large entrance gate, and an intriguing horticultural history dating back to the 1940s.

Set within the landscape of Dartmoor National Park, the property offers considerable potential for someone wishing to develop a small-scale orchard, cider or apple-juice enterprise, apiary, productive garden or permaculture project, subject to any necessary consents.

A Piece of South Brent's Horticultural History

The land was formerly a commercial horticultural nursery, operating from the 1940s and growing tomatoes, cucumbers and flowers in extensive glasshouses. The historic photographs provide a fascinating glimpse of the nursery in operation, with workers tending crops and constructing or maintaining the large glasshouse structures. Although no glasshouse structures or foundations now remain, the history gives the land a distinctive identity and offers a purchaser the opportunity to continue its horticultural tradition in a modern form. A garage-sized, lockable building remains on the site. Its foundations incorporate one of the former boiler-room areas associated with the original heated glasshouses. The story of the land could therefore become part of its future: from heated glasshouses producing vegetables and flowers, to a modern orchard and small-scale sustainable food enterprise.

The Orchard

The existing orchard comprises approximately 80 apple trees, with a mixture of:

Eating apples
Cooking apples
Cider apples
Crab apples
Approximately two pear trees
The trees are approximately 5 years old, with a number already carrying good crops.

The diversity of the planting makes the orchard particularly versatile. Apples suitable for eating and cooking could be harvested alongside cider varieties, while crab apples could provide useful pollination and additional opportunities for juice or cider blending.

The existing mix of apple varieties presents an obvious opportunity for someone interested in establishing a small-scale cider or apple-juice enterprise. The orchard also lends itself naturally to beekeeping and has been used as a small apiary by the current owners with good honey yield with a distinctive taste relating to it’s position on the edge of Dartmoor.

Permaculture and Regenerative Horticulture

For a purchaser interested in permaculture, regenerative growing or sustainable food production, the existing orchard provides an excellent starting point. Rather than replacing the established trees, a future owner could develop the land around them with complementary planting and habitats.

Potential elements could include:

Additional fruit and nut trees
Soft fruit
Perennial vegetables
Herbs and medicinal plants
Vegetable growing areas
Pollinator meadows
Beehives
Composting
Rainwater harvesting
Wildlife habitat
Native hedging
Small-scale agroforestry
Orchard grazing where appropriate
Community or educational growing
The combination of existing mature trees and open ground gives scope to create a productive, biodiverse "food garden" rather than simply an orchard.

Horticultural Enterprise

The site's previous use as a nursery is particularly relevant to anyone looking for a base for small-scale horticulture. There is an attractive symmetry in the possibility of returning the land to productive horticulture after several decades:

1940s nursery → tomatoes, cucumbers and flowers → established orchard → future sustainable horticultural enterprise.

The absence of electricity currently limits some activities, but a future owner could investigate appropriate renewable or off-grid solutions, subject to permissions and practical feasibility. Running water is available subject to an arrangement with the neighbouring property, which should be clearly described as an opportunity rather than as an existing guaranteed supply.

Access

A significant practical benefit is roadside access through a large entrance gate. There is currently no mains electricity supply to the property.

The Dartmoor Setting

The land occupies an appealing position on the outskirts of South Brent, within Dartmoor National Park.

Its setting combines the character of the National Park with proximity to the village, while its established trees, historic horticultural use and existing access give it a character that is quite different from an ordinary agricultural field.

Dartmoor National Park places particular emphasis on conserving and enhancing its landscape, biodiversity, heritage and tranquillity. The Authority's current planning policies also recognise agriculture, horticulture and rural land-based enterprises, although proposals need to be considered against the applicable planning policies and site circumstances. (Dartmoor National Park)

AGENTS NOTE

The adjoining property currently has an LPG tank on the land and would maintain the right of access for maintenance and filling of this. The property is offered for sale as a whole, comprising Lot 1 and Lot 2 as shown on the accompanying plan. Alternatively, the property is available to purchase as Lot 1 or Lot 2 only. The Orchard is marked ss Lot 2.

LOCAL AUTHORITY

South Hams District Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes TQ9 5NE.

The property is within Dartmoor National Park.

VIEWINGS

By appointment with Luscombe Maye, South Brent. 

DIRECTIONS

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SOUTH BRENT 

The moorland village of South Brent stands in the valley of the River Avon under the southern foothills of Dartmoor National Park and on the northern edge of the lovely South Hams, fifteen miles from the centre of Plymouth.

The village is one with a strong community with three churches, one of which dates back to Norman times, a primary school and a wide variety of shops. There are well-regarded community colleges at Totnes and Ivybridge, approximately eight and five miles distant respectively, and both towns offer a comprehensive range of facilities for the wider community. Some of the finest beaches on the south coast, along with the South West Coast Path, are all within easy reach.

Situated just off the A38 Expressway, the village is well placed for quick access to Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter for which there are regular bus services. Rail services can be found at Ivybridge, approximately five miles distant, offering services to Plymouth, Totnes, Newton Abbot, Exeter St David's and on to Bristol, Cardiff and London.