About this property

Detailed Description

INTRODUCTION
Paddocks Farm, Kibworth Harcourt comprises 456.01 hectares (1,126.81 acres) of predominantly Grade 3 land with a small amount of Grade 2 land and is offered to the market to rent as a whole on a 5 year Farm Business Tenancy agreement.

The Land is predominantly entered into an arable rotation, there are however, seven parcels of permanent pasture included extending to 36.50 hectares (90.20 acres). The permanent pasture will be required to remain for the duration of the term of the tenancy.

MERTON COLLEGE'S OBJECTIVES
Merton College's objective for the letting is to appoint a tenant who will deliver a balanced and forward-looking farming proposal. The College is seeking submissions that combine strong commercial performance and productive land management with a clear, credible environmental strategy, with a commitment to sustainability, biodiversity enhancement, and long-term soil health. The successful tenant should demonstrate an approach that protects and improves the natural capital of the holding while ensuring the farm remains resilient and commercially viable over the duration of the tenancy.

THE LAND
The Land extends to 452.38 hectares (1,117.84 acres) of Grade 2 & 3 land split into 5 separate enclosures. Across the holding, the arable land extends to 415.88 hectares (1,027.64 acres).
Also included within the letting are seven parcels of permanent pasture extending to 36.50 hectares (90.20 acres). The soil is predominantly of the Ragdale series, being slowly permeable clayey soils capable of growing cereals and combinable crops.

Towards Tur Langton the soil type is of the Hanslope series, which is best characterised as being lime-rich soils over chalk or limestone capable of growing cereals and combinable crops.

ACCESS
Access to the land parcels to the North of Kibworth Harcourt is from London Road. These land parcels also benefit from access via internal trackways.

The land parcels to the Northeast of Kibworth Harcourt are accessed from Carlton Road. The land parcels in between Kibworth Harcourt and Tur Langton are accessed from Kibworth Road. These land parcels also benefit from access via internal trackways.

The land parcels to the North of Tur Langton are accessed from Mere Road.

Access to the land parcels East of Tur Langton is from Crance Road. Land parcel 8804 can be accessed from Melton Road.

GENERAL REMARKS & INFORMATION
Public Rights of Way
There are a number of pubic footpaths, bridleways and easements across the holding. Please refer to the Ordnance Survey plans available in the Data Room.

Cropping
Energy crops are not permitted to be grown on the holding. The importation and spreading of sewage/sludge cake will not be permitted.

Drainage Rates
Environment Agency General drainage charges and any other drainage charges will be payable by the Tenant.

Subletting/Assignment
The incoming tenant is not permitted to sublet, assign, share possession of the Land/Farm buildings or enter into any cropping or grazing licences with third parties.

Basic Payment Scheme
The letting does not include any BPS entitlements or rights to claim any future payments.

Countryside Stewardship/Environmental Schemes
The Landlord will permit (subject to their prior consent) the land to be entered into a new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) or equivalent scheme if available during the term of the tenancy. The Tenant enters such schemes at their own risk but any scheme should receive prior written consent from the Landlord.

The outgoing tenant has an existing SFI Scheme that expires on 31st October 2026. The scheme will run until its expiration and the ingoing tenant agrees to indemnify the outgoing tenant against any action that may result in penalties or reductions in monies due under this scheme. The details of the scheme will be shared with the tenant prior to commencement.

Part of the land is currently entered into an existing ELS/ HLS agreement, which is scheduled to expire on 31 July 2028, subject to any extensions that may be offered. At the commencement of the tenancy, the incoming tenant will be required to take on and continue the relevant proportion of the scheme, thereby accepting and complying with all obligations attached to that part of the agreement. The Letting Agents will assist with the completion of the appropriate transfer documents to the incoming tenants.

A full copy of the scheme options and the existing agreement is available to view in the Data Room.

Sporting Rights
The sporting rights are excluded.

Tenancy Agreement
The land will be let on a Farm Business Tenancy agreement.

The basic tenancy terms will make provision for the following (amongst others):

Five year term from 29th September 2026 to 28th September 2031.
Rent to be payable half yearly in advance on 29th September and 25th March.
Full repairing and insuring

The Landlord may be prepared to extend the fixed term with the prospective tenant following the expiration of the initial fixed term for a further ten year term.

Wayleaves & Easements
The Landlord will retain any wayleave and easement payments over the Land.

Farm Buildings
Paddocks Farm benefits from an immaculate range of modern farm buildings including a range of grain stores providing 2,400 tonnes of grain storage and a workshop. The buildings all benefit from access via roller shutter doors.

There is a storage container situated in the yard providing an office and staff welfare unit.

The Landlord/outgoing Tenant retains the right of holdover for the farm buildings until 1st December 2026 for the storage of harvested grain. The new tenant will have exclusive occupation of the buildings from 1st December 2026.

Soil Testing
The farm has been comprehensively soil-tested prior to the commencement of the tenancy, and the results of this analysis are available for inspection in the Information Pack. At the end of the fixed term, the tenant will be required to commission and fund a full re-testing of the farm's soils. This is to demonstrate that no deterioration has occurred in soil organic matter levels or overall soil health during the period of occupation. The College's intention is to ensure that soil quality is maintained or enhanced over time as part of responsible stewardship of the holding.

Biodiversity
Merton College places strong emphasis on the long-term enhancement of natural capital across its rural holdings.
Paddocks Farm contains a number of existing biodiversity measures that contribute meaningfully to the ecological value of the holding. These include established field margins located outside the existing stewardship agreements, watercourse buffer zones, recent tree-planting initiatives, and other habitat-supporting features that together provide important wildlife corridors and environmental benefits.

The incoming tenant will be expected to continue, maintain, and where appropriate enhance these measures throughout the duration of their tenure. This includes managing the existing features in a nature-positive manner and adopting farming practices that support soil health, biodiversity enhancement, and overall landscape resilience.

Merton College encourages a collaborative approach and expects the incoming tenant to work positively with the College to identify further opportunities for environmental improvement. The overarching aim is to ensure that the farm's natural capital is protected and enhanced alongside a productive and commercially sustainable farming system.

Information Pack
An information Pack is available to all interested parties via an online Data Room and contains:

Plan of the Land
5 year cropping history
Draft Farm Business Tenancy Agreement
Tender Form
Soil sampling data
Land drainage maps
ELS/HLS agreement
Details of public rights of way
Details of position of gas pipeline

Access to the Data Room will be granted following prior registration with the Letting Agents.

Viewing
There are two designated viewing days on Wednesday 8th April 2026 and Tuesday 21st April 2026, please register your interest and desire to attend with the Lettings Agents.

Form of Tender
Applicants should complete the Tender Form within the Information Pack and return the same via post to:

George Watchorn, Brown&Co, The Fairways, Wyboston Lakes, Great North Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire, MK44 3AL or by email to:
george.watchorn@brown-co.com

The Tender Form details the supplementary information expected to support their tender.

Tenders to be submitted by 12 noon on Monday 11th May 2026.

Nearest Postcodes/what3words
Nearest postcode: LE8 0NP
what3words: ///remake.doted.sandbags

Plans & Areas
These are prepared as carefully as possible by reference to OS data and the Rural Land Register. The plans are published for illustrative purposes only and although they are believed to be correct their accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Boundaries
The Tenant shall be deemed to have full knowledge of all boundaries and neither the Landlord nor the Letting Agents will be responsible for defining boundaries or their ownership.

Disputes
Should any disputes arise as to the boundaries or any matters relating to these particulars, or the interpretation thereof, that matter will be referred to an arbitrator to be appointed by the Letting Agents.

Letting Agents
Brown&Co
The Fairways, Wyboston Lakes, Great North Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire, MK44 3AL