Savills research shows an 11% increase in the volume of publicly marketed farmland across Great Britain. 158,000 acres were publicly marketed during 2010 compared with 143,000 acres in 2009. Supply, in the historical context, remains tight.

In England, the supply of farmland remained static, with 107,000 acres publicly marketed, during both 2009 and 2010.

However, in both Scotland and Wales significant increases in supply were recorded for 2010, albeit from a low base in 2009. In Scotland, 37,000 acres were publicly marketed in 2010, up 35% on the previous year. In Wales the increase was 65% in 2010 to 14,250 acres of lowland farmland, although the Llanwddyn Estate in Powys contributed to over a third of this.

Regional variation

Across England the supply was most limited down the eastern side. In the South East supply fell furthest at -35%, to 12,400 acres. In the East Midlands and the East of England, activity was similar to 2009. Graph 2 in the gallery illustrates the variations in regional supply activity.

The above figures take no account of any privately marketed farms, but anecdotal evidence suggests there has been significant activity ‘off market’ for both large commercial farms and estates during 2010.

Taken from
Market Survey: Agricultural Land, 2011