Friday, June 27, 2014

Knight Frank: "UK Farmland prices hit record high, but growth to slow"

From Agrimoney:
UK farmland prices set fresh record highs, helped by strong demand from investors, although the rate of appreciation has eased, and is likely to remain at a slower rate, Knight Frank said. 

Land prices in England, which accounts for the majority of UK farmland, rose by 2.6% in the April-to-June period from the quarter before to an all-time high of $7,517 per acre ($18,574 per hectare), the property consultancy said.

In Scotland, prices rose 1.6% quarter on quarter to £4,329 an acre for average land.
However, the increases were markedly slower than those in the January-to-March period, of 6.4% in England and 6.8% in Scotland.

And, while prices will continue to grow, it will be at a slower rate, Knight Frank said, foreseeing values in England adding a further 6% over the next 12 months, a decrease from the 17% growth seen over the past year.
"I think values have plateaued in some areas, while there is room for more growth in others," James Prewett, the group's head of regional farms, said.

In Scotland, price growth will ease to 5% over the next year, compared with 8% over the past 12 months.

'Pensive market'
Knight Frank termed the Scottish market as "pensive", ahead of this autumn's referendum on independence from the UK, which has prompted some potential vendors to hold back on sales....MORE