Wilderness Reserve markets two 'wonderful' Suffolk estates in 'incredibly rare' sale

Two beautiful and sizeable Suffolk estates are being offered up for sale at the same time.

The 1,922-acre Blyford Estate and the 838-acre Chediston Estate are both owned by the Wilderness Reserve, a luxury retreat near Southwold for high-end holidaymakers which has become a magnet for celebrities seeking a quiet break.

The business is owned by billionaire property entrepreneur Jon Hunt, who founded estate agents Foxtons and who bought Heveningham Hall near Halesworth in 1994.

The Wilderness Reserve is bringing both of the estates to the market as part of shift in the business's focus towards investment in its nature-led tourism and forestry businesses, it said.

Together they comprise around 2,800 acres of arable and grazed farmland – including a number of estate properties - and are being jointly marketed by Savills and Clarke & Simpson.

Blyford is being offered up with a guide price of £25m while Chediston is estimated at £11.6m - so overall the two estates are being marketed at around £36.6m.

Described as "farming and amenity estates" they comprise mainly arable farmland which is partly irrigated and are managed under existing Contract Farming Agreements.

They also include a mix of highly attractive woodland, marsh land and grazing meadows bordering the River Blyth, complemented by a residential portfolio and a range of commercial properties.

Both estates have attractive principal dwellings. The Blyford Estate is home to Blyford Hall and The Watermill while Chediston's main property is Chediston Grange.

These are among 12 homes – nine at Blyford and three at Chediston. There are also a number of former farm buildings let to commercial occupiers which provide a "good" source of income, according to the agents.

There are also grazing licences over grassland and marsh areas.

Property agent Will Hargreaves, who leads the rural agency team for Savills in East Anglia and is based in the firm’s Suffolk office, said the sale of the  "wonderful" amenity estates was an "exciting opportunity" to acquire land close to the Suffolk coast and the A12.

“To have two estates of this size in such a desirable location and available at the same time is incredibly rare.

“The commercial diversity and aesthetic appeal make it a very attractive proposition and – although the estates are being sold separately – we anticipate it’s likely that we will find a buyer who would be interested in purchasing them as a whole, particularly as both estates provide excellent opportunities to explore emerging natural capital markets.”

Oliver Holloway, partner in the land agency team at Clarke & Simpson,  said both properties were likely to generate regional, national and even international interest and would appeal to estate buyers who are looking to expand or relocate and also investors.

“There is the opportunity for existing agreements and licences to be continued, including higher tier/level environmental schemes, to provide a good source of return to the purchaser," he said.

"Equally there is the flexibility for vacant possession of the land and buildings to be provided this year should a purchaser so wish.”

They offered "a unique and exciting opportunity" to acquire a sizeable land holding, which would benefit a future inheritance planning and investment strategy, he added.

“Although both estates have good amenity appeal, Chediston is more suited to commercial farming, whereas the Blyford Estate has more of a traditional feel to it," he said.

“There is the opportunity for existing agreements and licences to be continued, including higher tier/level environmental schemes, to provide a good source of return to the purchaser.

"Equally there is the flexibility for vacant possession of the land and buildings to be provided this year should a purchaser so wish."