South West Farmland prices more than treble within nine years

Farmland prices in the South West hit yet another record high during the first half of 2013 and have now more than trebled in less than a decade, according to the latest RICS Rural Land Market Survey H1 2013.

During the first six months of the year, the cost of farmland jumped to £7,250 per acre across the region, hitting a record high for the eighth consecutive period. The cost of land is now more than three times that of the same period in 2004 when an acre cost just over £2,300.

The exponential growth in prices has been driven by the on-going demand from farmers and investors alike. Surveyors note that hikes in commodity prices are leading the charge to expand agricultural operations and investors increasingly are seeing land as an economic safe haven.

With bare farmland so sought after, the six months to June saw an increase on the amount coming onto the market. 18 percent more chartered surveyors reported rises rather than falls in supply. Despite this, the sheer pace of growing demand outstripped the amount available land.

Across Great Britain, land prices were highest in the North West while, the cost per acre was lowest in Scotland.

Looking ahead, it seems that the market is far from finding its level. Respondents expect the trend of rapidly growing prices to continue in the South West over the coming year with a net balance of 65 percent more surveyors predicting further growth.

Sue Steer, RICS spokesperson, commented:

“The growth in farmland prices in recent times has been nothing short of staggering. In less than ten years we’ve seen the cost of a square acre of farmland grow to such an extent that investors – not just farmers – are entering the market. And, if commodity prices continue to increase and keep demand high, there’s no reason at all why we won’t see the cost per acre going through the ten thousand pound barrier in the next two to three years.”