Priors Farm: A unique opportunity for environmental investment and leisure use
Priors Farm is an environmentally-rich estate on the banks of the River Colne, just to the east of the picturesque village of Fingringhoe. Being offered for sale freehold, this presents an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a diverse property with extensive potential for a variety of investment and amenity uses.
This rare opportunity allows prospective buyers to own a ring-fenced property spanning 152.8 acres (61.84 hectares), comprising amenity woodland, grassland, water bodies, storage facilities, and a former quarry office with planning permission for a three-bedroom dwelling. The estate is offered for sale as a whole, but bids for individual lots or specific parts of the property will also be considered.
Priors Farm has been in the same family for decades and was previously a site for sand and gravel extraction, with materials transported by barge to London via a private quay on the River Colne. Quarrying operations have ceased and the land has been restored to amenity grassland, offering potential for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), woodland planting, and carbon offset projects. Lot 1 is particularly suitable for equestrian purposes.
Given its location and ecologically diverse habitats, Priors Farm offers substantial potential for environmental enhancement and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). The restored quarry, featuring lakes, ponds and amenity grassland, present opportunities to create new habitats like wildflower meadows or wetlands and enhance existing environments to increase biodiversity.
Generated units can be sold commercially to developers in England, particularly those seeking to develop within the Colchester Borough Council Local Planning Authority or national character area. This makes Priors Farm attractive for buyers interested in conservation, sustainable development, or offsetting the environmental impact of other projects.
Detailed Lot descriptions
Lot 1 (Guide Price: £950,000): 16 acres (6.46 hectares) with a former Quarry Office (planning permission for a three-bedroom dwelling), storage facilities and a traditional Brick Barn. Suitable for equestrian and leisure uses.
Lot 2 (Guide Price: £650,000): 79.6 acres (32.2 hectares) of natural regeneration, reeds, wet woodland, grassland and tracks. A portion of Lot 2 is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Lot 3 (Guide Price: £250,000): 22.1 acres (8.9 hectares) of broadleaf woodland and open glades, including a telephone mast with annual income. A portion is a County Wildlife Site.
Lot 4 (Guide Price: £250,000): 7.5 acres (3 hectares) featuring a carp lake with potential for recreational fishery.
Lot 5 (Guide Price: £250,000): 27 acres (10.9 hectares) of grassland, natural regeneration areas, lakes, ponds, and the site of Fingringhoe Forest School. A footpath crosses Lot 5.
Overage
The property will be sold with a 30-year overage provision, reserving 30% of the net increase in value for the seller from either planning consent for development or capital gain from natural capital (e.g. Biodiversity Net Gain units).