Introduction
The sale of Priors Farm provides a rare opportunity to acquire a ring-fenced property with a variety of land uses, including amenity woodland and grassland, a variety of water areas, storage buildings, and a former quarry office with planning permission for a 3-bedroom dwelling.
The property is located at Fingringhoe, Essex. In total, the property extends to 152.8 acres (61.84 ha), as shown on the sale plan. Prior Farm has been in the ownership of the vendors for several decades. The majority of the land has been worked to extract predominantly sand and gravel, which was shipped from the private quay on the River Colne by barge to London.
The quarry has been completely worked out and all the land has been restored, providing an opportunity to purchase the property as a whole or in five Lots. Large areas of the land currently restored to amenity grassland could be suitable for Biodiversity Net Gain, woodland planting and carbon offset, in particular Lot 1, would be of interest for equestrian uses. Any purchaser(s) will need to take their own independent advice on the management of the property and any potential alternative use for the property.
Location
The property is located to the east of the village of Fingringhoe and is within easy reach of Colchester (6 miles), A12 Feering Junction (12 miles), and London (70 miles).
miles.
Tenure and Possession
The property is offered for sale freehold, subject to the existing rights of occupation.
• Fingringhoe Forest School.
• Shooting rights are currently on an annual arrangement for £5,800 plus VAT.
agreement expires 2nd February 2, 2025.
• The telephone mast located on Lot 3 is let at £1,750 per annum. A new
lease is currently being put in place for 10 years.
• Brick Barn annual license: £780.
• Garage annual license: £1,144.
Restoration and Aftercare
Lots 1, 2 and 3 are not subject to any pre-specific restoration conditions (ROMPS).
Lots 4 and 5 are subject to restoration conditions. The purchaser(s) of these
Lots will be responsible for restoration in accordance with planning permission from Essex County Council or such other scheme as may be agreed with the Mineral Planning Authority.
Planning
The property is within Colchester City Council local area and is governed by their Local Plan. The property is not designated as lying within any restricted areas, apart from a very small part of Lot 2, which is subject to a SSSI. Essex County Council is the Mineral
Planning Authority.
The former office has planning permission for change of use to a 3-bedroom dwelling (Planning Reference 223032, Colchester City Council). Environmental and Biodiversity Net
Gain Potential.
Owing to the properties location and local environmental context, the land provides opportunities for the uplift of onsite habitats, mostly restored quarry land, for the purposes of generating Biodiversity Net Gain habitat units. Such uplift could include the creation of new species-rich grasslands and woodland parcels and the enhancement of existing fresh water ponds and reed beds.
Generated units can be sold commercially to developers in England and will be of particular value to those seeking to develop within the Colchester Borough Council Local Planning Authority or national character area.
Method of Sale
The property is offered for sale as a whole or in five Lots. A sale of the whole is preferred; however, offers may be considered on any part. Purchaser(s) interested in any specific part should contact the selling agents at an early stage, indicating the area of specific interest to them.
Wayleaves, Easements and Rights of Way
The property is sold subject to all existing rights of way, public or private, light support, drainage, water, electricity supplies and all other rights and obligations, easements, quasi-easements and all wayleaves, whether referred to or not in the particulars. A footpath crosses through Lot 5.
Registered Title
The property is registered under Title Numbers EX500479, EX606791,
EX606792, EX646071.
Overage
The property will be sold subject to a 30-year overage provision, reserving to the seller 30% of the net uplift of value resulting from either a grant of planning consent for development and/or any capital uplift from natural capital (e.g. Biodiversity Net Gain units). In respect of development, the overage will be triggered on the grant of planning consent and in respect of natural capital, when a unit or a capital payment is received.
Sporting Rights
These are included in so far as they are owned.
Services
The property has the benefit of mains electricity, with a 25 KVA supply to Lot 4 and 125 KVA 3-phase supply to Lot 1.
Lot 1 also has the benefit of mains water and the office building is oil-fired
central heating and is connected to a cesspit.
Local Authority
Colchester City Council
Essex County Council
Plans, Areas and Schedules
The plans attached to the particulars are based on the Ordnance Survey National Grid and are for reference and indicative purposes only. The purchaser (s) will be deemed to satisfy themselves as to the land as scheduled.
Acknowledgement of Condition
The purchaser(s) will be deemed to have satisfied themselves with the environmental condition of the property and to have purchased it on the basis of their own enquiries, inspections and surveys. The purchaser(s) will agree that the vendor will have no liability in relation to the environmental condition after completion and will provide an indemnity to the vendor as to any such liability.
