2020 has begun with great interest in farms and agricultural land in Mid Wales, according to one of the region’s leading estate agents.

Greater certainty over future farming subsidy payments and with banks keen to lend on farms, there is increased interest from investors seeking non-agricultural and diversified business opportunities, according to Tony Evans, a Partner and Chartered Surveyor at Morris, Marshall and Poole with Norman Lloyd.

Buoyant prices

“There has been too little on the market recently which has kept farm and land prices buoyant in the region, particularly smallholdings where a mix of purchasers have shown interest in either lifestyle or diversified businesses,” said Mr Evans ‘A strong residential market has really underpinned this demand too."

“The banks are still keen to lend on farms and in addition to new investors, we’re seeing interest from existing farm enterprises seeking expansion, especially into diversified areas such as holiday lets, poultry and renewable energy.”

Three significant farms have been placed on the market in recent weeks. These include the 220-acre Bodaioch Hall at Trefeglwys, near Llanidloes; Garthbwt, a five-bedroom farm with outbuildings and 258 acres of pastureland at Clatter, near Caersws; and Rhosfawr a three-bedroom farmhouse with outbuildings and 66 acres of land at Oakley Park, Llandinam.

Garthbwrt Farm is a substantial agricultural unit with a farmhouse, modern and traditional farm buildings.

“The house was designed as a country gentleman's residence with attractive and very well-proportioned front accommodation to be occupied by the family,” said Mr Evans.

“The property has been well constructed in the late Georgian/early Victorian period with a number of attractive internal features including a large amount of pitched pine carved doors and features, built-in cupboard and staircases.”

It’s on the market with MMP/NL for £1.4 million through MMP/NL.

Rhosfawr is five miles from Llanidloes, located in open countryside. Mr Evans said: “The property is surrounded by its own farmland extending to 66.142 acres (26.767 Ha.).

It is a most attractive small farm with a well-proportioned, three-bedroom farmhouse, a useful range of traditional and modern buildings suitable for alternative uses and a good balanced area of pastureland with some drier upland pasture adjacent.”

It’s on the market at £600,000.

Bodaioch Hall is an eight-bedroom period farmhouse with a five-bedroom cottage. It has 220-acres of land and a range of traditional and modern farm buildings.

Demand expected to increase

“We’re receiving a lot of enquiries from potential buyers seeking smallholdings and farmland and we’re anticipating further demand as we head into the year,” added Mr Evans.

“As part of our service, we find accompanied viewings for farms work well where we can use our knowledge of the property to best highlight the benefits of farm ownership. In a two day period last week we made seven accompanied viewings on these properties.

“These three farms are already attracting a lot of interest and it’s definitely a good time for buyers and sellers to be entering the market for business and investment opportunities.”

New investment is set to benefit businesses and organisations seeking prime conference facilities in Mid Wales.

Investment has been completed in new digital multimedia equipment at the Welshpool Livestock Sales Conference and Meeting Centre at Buttington Cross, Welshpool, Powys.

Estate agents and chartered surveyors Morris, Marshall and Poole with Norman Lloyd, owners of WLS, have installed a new 2.4 metre inch screen and digital projector in its main conference room, capable of hosting up to 150 people for meetings and functions.

 An additional large-screen digital TV display has also been installed in a smaller meeting room capable of hosting up to 14 people.

Conferences and meetings for up to 150 people 

“The conference centre has become a key location for businesses and organisation seeking an accessible location. We’ve invested in new technology to allow the centre’s users access to excellent audio/visual equipment in addition to the existing facilities,” said Tom Davies, a Chartered Surveyor at MMP/NL.

“The conference centre has grown in use significantly in recent times with many clients wanting a central location between North and South Wales, as well as the Midlands and the North West of England.”

The WLS Conference and Meeting Centre is sited in modern premises at WLS, along the main A483 trunk road linking South and North Wales and the North West of England, along with the A458 to Shropshire and the Midlands.

Parking for over 100 vehicles

Parking is available for more than 100 vehicles and the centre also has its own catering facilities, a restaurant for private use, a lift to the first-floor facilities and complimentary WiFi.

 The large function room can be hired for £150 for a full day and £85 for a half-day, including use of audio/visual equipment.

 The small meeting room can be hired for £75 for a full day and £40 for a half-day, with use of the audio/visual equipment.

 Catering for hot and cold buffet meals, breakfasts, teas, coffees and more can be booked. The on-site restaurant is available for booking through the site’s contract caterers.

Customers can email katie@welshpoolsmithfield.co.uk or telephone 01938 553438 for more details.

A Mid Wales farm that has been in the same family for more than 140 years has been put up for sale for £2.85 million.

Bodaioch Hall in Trefeglwys, near Llanidloes, Powys, is owned by the Griffiths family who ran a successful dairy unit at the farm. In more recent years the majority of the land has been let under grazing licences with the current family planning to retire from the industry.

The sale includes an eight-bedroom period main residence, a five-bedroom cottage, a large number of farm buildings and productive farmland, suitable for pasture and arable crops.

“It’s very rare for a farm of such size and quality to come on the market in the area and it’s suitable for both commercial farmers and lifestyle buyers with its grand country residence,” said Joe Powell, a Chartered Surveyor at Morris, Marshall and Poole with Norman Lloyd who have been appointed as agents for the sale.

Support a range of farming enterprises

“Bodaioch Hall is well equipped as a livestock rearing and finishing unit and would support a range of farming enterprises or diversification projects. The farm buildings include a range of traditional and more contemporary units that have been used for sheep housing in recent years, although these could be adapted, subject to necessary planning consent.”

The farm will be sold either as one unit or split into five lots. Lot 1 will include the hall, cottage and farm buildings, extending to 90.29 acres, while Lots 2-5 made up of high quality and productive land and pasture totalling 129.7 acres.

Stunning period property

Bodaioch Hall itself is a stunning period property including reception hallway, study, sitting and living rooms, a dining room, kitchen, pantries, conservatory and eight bedrooms.

The neighbouring semi-detached cottage includes a hallway, living and sitting rooms, utility room, kitchen/dining room and five bedrooms.

The farm buildings include stone, timber and steel-framed structures.

Located near two main livestock markets

Located in the stunning Trannon Valley in the village of Trefeglwys, the farm is close to the main towns of Llanidloes, Newtown and Welshpool, including the main livestock markets at Welshpool and Rhayader.

“We’re anticipating a lot of interest in the property, both for its residential and agricultural opportunities. The family would be pleased to see it sell as one lot, but we are also offering the opportunity to buy it as five separate lots,” added Mr Powell.

The sale is being handled by the Rural Team at Morris, Marshall and Poole with Norman Lloyd. More details can be obtained by calling 01686 412567 or email llanidloes@morrismarshall.co.uk.

More details about the property can be found here.

More than £2,100 has been presented to the Wales Air Ambulance by staff from Mid Wales and Shropshire estate agent Morris, Marshall and Poole with Norman Lloyd.

The money was raised during a charity golf day at Aberdyfi, the Across Wales Walk and a raffle for a giant Easter Egg.

"The Wales Air Ambulance is a vital resource for the people of Mid Wales and we decided it would be our chosen charity this year," said Bryan Jarman, a Chartered Surveyor at MMP/NL.

A vital resource for the people of Wales

"Staff undertook a range of charity events, including Lucy Powell from our Rhayader office who took part in the Across Wales Walk earlier this year."

A total of £2,119.65 was raised and presented to staff at the Wales Air Ambulance's Welshpool base at the Mid Wales Airport.

The air ambulance charity has a helicopter based at the airport that covers a large area of Mid Wales, as well as other parts of Wales when necessary.

Photo: Lucy Powell (third right)is pictured with Bryan Jarman (second right) and Tom Davies (third left) of Morris, Marshall and Poole with Norman Lloyd, presenting the cheque to Wales Air Ambulance aircrew and paramedics

With stunning panoramic views over the Severn Valley in Mid Wales, a late Victorian property has been placed on the market that is expected to draw a lot of interest.

Y Llys at Belan School Lane, near Welshpool, Powys, is being sold through Mid Wales and Shropshire estate agent Morris, Marshall and Poole with Norman Lloyd.

The four-bedroom property sits on the hillside overlooking the valley and beyond towards Long Mountain and Shropshire.

Private orchard

Well maintained, it includes three reception rooms, a conservatory, kitchen/dining room, family bathroom, LPG heating, terraced gardens and lawns. It also has its own orchard.

“You can’t beat the views from Y Llys. They’re absolutely stunning,” said Rob Hudson, a partner at MMP/NL. "The property has been well maintained and since it was built in the late Victorian period it has been extended to become the home it is today.”

Sun terrace

The property boasts sloping and terraced gardens and lawns and a sun terrace which has views to the North, South and East. It is close to the A483 road with links to Shrewsbury, Chester, the Midlands and other parts of Mid Wales.

It is being sold for £429,000. More details can be found here or contact MMP/NL on 01938 554818 or email welshpool@morrismarshall.co.uk.