Farms to be sold in Staffordshire with money ploughed back into services

Staffordshire County Council raised a total of £11 million from selling the land with chiefs hoping to raise more this month.

Two farms will be advertised for sale with vacant possession – with six more being offered with sitting tenants.

Deputy leader Philip White, cabinet member for economy and skills, said: "Money from the sale of the ‘non-core’ part of the estate will be used to support health and care and investment in Staffordshire’s physical and electronic infrastructure for the future.

"Some of the money will also be reinvested in the County Farms estate. We will still have around 6,600 acres at the end of this process and will continue to give ambitious newcomers the opportunity and support they need to take their first steps in the industry."

The farms involved in the final phase of the sale are at Hilderstone, two at Upper Wollaston near Church Eaton, two at Rugeley and one apiece at Gnosall, Penkridge and Garmelow, near Eccleshall.

The sale of the farm land, which began in 2019, extends to around 1,700 acres and comprised 16 let farm holdings and other vacant land and property not considered to be in the "core" estate.

Tenants at the selected farms have been offered the opportunity to buy first, with three taking up the offer. Others have decided to move to larger sites on the estate, retired, or will continue as sitting tenants for the new owners.

The remaining core estate has tenancies ranging in size from 30 to 200 acres and includes 14 starter farms for newcomers to the industry.

Councillor White added: "Our farms offer commercially-minded aspirational new entrants, many of them young, a foothold in the industry, with many going on to run larger farms, either as part of the council’s County Farms estate, or in the private sector.

"Not only is Staffordshire continuing to support one of the county’s core industries, our tenants make a valuable contribution to our rural economy."