Pursuit of rural ideal helps drive demand for farmland in Lakes and Dales

The farmland market in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales has experienced a period of uplift – a surge credited to the ‘carpe diem’ effect. 

Despite news coverage declaring the Lake District closed – a warning that was accompanied by huge LED displays on the motorways for anyone trying their luck – Carter Jonas is reporting sales of £4.4m over the three months of lockdown. 

Robert Bowyer, Senior Surveyor at Carter Jonas, says that this area attracts the lifestyle market, in particular, London residents searching for a change of pace. 

Rather than being put off by Covid-19, Brexit and the worrying state of the economy, this unpredictable period appears to inspired many potential buyers in this category to finally pursue long-held ambitions. 

“The attitude of these buyers has been ‘let’s just do it’,” Robert says. “They’ve decided to pursue whatever they’ve been thinking of doing for a while. 

“Some people decided to wait until the Budget was out of the way, but now the Chancellor has pushed that back many are deciding to carry on. We saw something similar when the Brexit deal kept getting pushed back – buyers proceeded because they realised the big picture doesn’t matter as much as they thought.” 

As working from home continues to be the norm for most people, Robert believes this demand will continue. Especially as more subscribe to a way of living that has become well established in these areas in recent years.  

“We have the fastest broadband in the world and can be in London in 2.5 hours,” Robert says. “There are some people who travel to London for work from Tuesday to Thursday, as they’ve realised they don't need to be in the capital every day. 

“People have been doing this in the Cotswolds for years, and it’s becoming more popular further afield. The range that people are willing to travel has extended because of better rail links. 

“Covid has been a real catalyst. You can’t have it all but you can have most of it, if you’re really strategic.” 

The typical profile for this type of buyer is a wealthy individual in their late 40s to early 50s.  

“They want to look after their health, but also their business,” Robert says. “They want to invest sensibly, but also aren’t prepared to be a hostage to their own pension – they don’t want their wealth tied up in something they can never enjoy.” 

This suits the lifestyle market in the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, which are not locations known for large blocks of prime productive farmland.  

“These buyers want to invest in land – often not particularly large or glamorous things, but they will happily take a lower return on the basis that they can walk their dog over it until they retire,” Robert says. “That’s a really attractive prospect for lots of people.” 

Carter Jonas is perfectly placed to help those selling land and property in these areas.  

“We specialise in more awkward cases that require a broader set of skills than a basic agent,” Robert says. “If something is complicated, multi-faceted diverse and interesting, we’re best placed to help.” 

Those hoping to take advantage of demand and sell are advised to prepare their offering properly.  

“The ideal listing isn’t riddled with issues – make sure the titles are registered and things like the water supply and septic tank are sorted,” Robert says. “All of these are far more important than whether or not it has a nice view for these buyers. 

“If all the background work hasn’t been done properly, the seller will be the one who inadvertently derails the deal.” 

For more information, contact Robert Bowyer on 07971 634561 or robert.bowyer@carterjonas.co.uk.  

*The header images shows Heathwaite Farm at Bowmanstead in Cumbria, a 37-hectare farm with stunning views across Coniston Water which sold during lockdown.