Despite the well-reported headwinds in agriculture and in line with most of England, the supply of farmland to the market in the East fell slightly from 2024 levels. To the end of September in this year, only 16,326 acres were advertised for sale, compared with 16,506 for the same period in 2024. There were marked differences across the region with more than 4,000 acres offered for sale in both Cambridgeshire and Essex while only about 2,000 acres and 1,000 acres were traded in Suffolk and Norfolk respectively.
Values performed rather as expected, dipping slightly from their most recent peak in 2023 by 5.5% and remaining stable but ever more varied. Statistically the average price paid for prime arable land in this period was £9,370 per acre but across the region we saw land trading anywhere between about £8,500 and £13,000 per acre. Under competition, the most desirable farms still command a premium but with buyers becoming more cautious, this isn’t necessarily reflected universally within a farm-type or locality.
2025 was characterised by conversations about changes in inheritance tax laws and the increasing profitability challenges in farming. Many landowners and farmers are taking a more focused look at their assets and understanding both what they have and what they are worth.
The coming months will be key for many as the winter is a crucial period to prepare for any sale which might be undertaken in 2026. While we are not expecting a significant rise in the supply of land to the market or big movements in values, we are likely to see some effect from the changes brought about in the two recent budgets.