Farmers relieved as Powys Council rejects plans to sell Farming Estate

With 141 holdings and land extending to 11,300 acres, Powys County Council’s Farms Estate is the largest of its kind in Wales
With 141 holdings and land extending to 11,300 acres, Powys County Council’s Farms Estate is the largest of its kind in Wales

Powys County Council has voted not to sell swathes of its 11,300 acre Farming Estate amid budget concerns and will instead maintain it as viable asset.

During a meeting on Wednesday (28 November), Powys County Council's Cabinet discussed the future of its 141 farms amid budget worries.

Earlier this year, the Learning Skills and Economy (LSE) Scrutiny Committee highlighted plans, which included selling land, in order to ease financial difficulties.

Their report said: "The proposals submitted to Cabinet appear to offer little choice other than the status quo.

"The Strategic Asset Management Plan notes a declining contribution to central capital receipts in the immediate future and this issue needs to be given serious consideration given the financial situation the authority is facing."

However, in Wednesday's meeting, the council instead voted to look into estate diversification and investment.

With 141 holdings and land extending to 11,300 acres, Powys County Council’s Farms Estate is the largest of its kind in Wales and the fifth largest in the UK.

The majority of the Estate lies in Montgomeryshire, although there are several estates in Radnorshire with further Holdings in Brecknock.

County Farms Estate holdings range in size from residential smallholdings to commercial farm units.

In recent years, the Estate has sought to increase the size of its core holdings by amalgamating certain farms, with the largest Estate farm now covering a combined area of 227 acres.

The County Farms Estate provides opportunities for young people wanting to get in to farming who perhaps don't have a family farm.

Council Leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, told Powys County Times: "We are very proud of the fact that we can provide this opportunity.

"We may sell the odd house with an acre or so, but there are no plans to sell the estate, this document does not deal with that sort of thing."