Rural land demand may increase diversification

Perthshire farm offers biomass, sporting rights and cottage

A growing demand for rural property could result in more farms being subdivided for sale in future.

Carl Warden, Bell Ingram’s head of estate agency, made the comments in the wake of widespread interest for the diversified unit of Whitebank Farm near Methven which offers biomass, sporting rights and holiday cottage potential.

Mr Warden said: “If the appetite for rural property continues, we may well see more farms divided into separate lots for sale with the traditional farmhouse commanding bigger prices than before thanks to this increased interest in the residential elements of the farm.”

Whitebank extends to more than 60ha and comes with a 300-year-old farmhouse, office accommodation, a range of farm buildings, and a detached cottage which could be converted into a holiday cottage.

The farm is on the market for offers over £1,500,000.

Livestock and cereals have been produced on Whitebank, and the farm also operated a firewood business before starting biomass facilities in 2004.

Jamie Reith, who is selling the farm, said: “I inherited the farm and its firewood business from my father after he bought it in 1957. Firewood was more of a hobby for my father, however I decided to take it in a more commercial direction before introducing biomass,

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... we may well see more farms divided into separate lots for sale

which really took off. There were so few people installing biomass facilities at the time and very few companies able to install them, so Whitebank became the prototype for businesses in the area which received great support from the community.”

The biomass boiler system continues to service the farmhouse, the cottage and the offices and also provides additional income.

The farm is available in one or two lots. Lot one contains the farmhouse, cottage, steading and sporting rights together with around 21ha of land for offers over £1.1m. Lot two contains land extending to around 38ha and has an asking price of offers over £400,000.

Whitebank Farm extends to more than 60ha and comes with a 300-year-old farmhouse, office accommodation, a range of farm buildings and a detached cottage which could be converted into a holiday home.