Buying agricultural land

Goldeagle1

This seemed the closest forum to ask this question...

I am looking to buy a small piece of land (about 3 acres) and want to know before I buy it whether I can grow crops on it.

The land is advertised as a 'paddock' - is this a formal classification that means anything? There is no mention about it being designated for equestrian use, so assume it is just agricultural.

Are there any restrictions with what you can do on agricultural land? (except the obvious like building a house). Or can you use land for whatever you want, whether that's grazing or for growing crops?

Thanks

enjoyyourshoes

Assuming you are not claiming any subsidy or SFP ?

If its above 2 Ha and has been grassland for 15 years then you have apply to natural England.

You can grow crops but probably need a local contractor to:-

1.0 Kill off all the grass

2.0 Plough

3.0 Till

4.0 Seed

4.0 Harvest

as its a small acreage you will be behind on the queue of larger farmers, so harvesting may be an issue?

Davesnave

One should apply for a change of use if going from agricultural to equestrian, but I'm not sure if it works the other way round, or if anyone would get particularly upset if you did.

With councils being ever more cash-strapped, I wonder how much enforcement goes on, beyond the obvious requirement for permission to site permanent stables on fields. I see plenty of fields being used temporarily for horses, or for mixed use with other animals, which blurs the boundaries even further!

Goverment agencies know what's going on at any rural location through satellite imagery much better than you or I could access. For example, new fences soon appear on the maps they use.

Certainly, there are no restrictions on growing crops on agricultural land or putting it to mixed use, such as vegetable growing with orchard fruits etc.

Davesnave

enjoyyourshoes wrote: »

Assuming you are not claiming any subsidy or SFP ? They won't be.

If its above 2 Ha and has been grassland for 15 years then you have apply to natural England. It isn't.

Have you read the post carefully?

enjoyyourshoes

Davesnave Providing full information (OP can convert Ha to Acre if they so desire)

If you want animals on the land, you mentioned grazing, you will need a CPH number

Goldeagle1

Hi

Thanks for the replies so far.

For clarification - no subsidies or anything, and no grazing - just buying a small piece of land to plant on; actually planning to plant a permanent crop rather than an annual crop (not sure what the correct terminology is).

The land will be less than 2 hectares as my budget is £50k which means most likely will be able to get 3 to 4 acres.

I will get guidance from a solicitor before I commit to any purchase, was initially just trying to inform myself as far as possible before going any further.

All the land around it appears to be laid to grass rather than used for crops, otherwise I wouldn't have been too concerned. There is also a farm house immediately adjacent to the field so didn't want to go annoying anyone by growing something if I'm not allowed to.

Davesnave

enjoyyourshoes wrote: »

Davesnave Providing full information (OP can convert Ha to Acre if they so desire)

If you want animals on the land, you mentioned grazing, you will need a CPH number

2 ha is much larger than this paddock, so I don't see the point of adding the complication. They won't be eligible for SPF either.

For your info, it's possible to have animals grazing land without it having a CPH number, provided the owner of the animals has one and records the movement and location via field number etc, but we are just straying into territory which probably isn't helpful here, at least for the moment.