Farmland values hold firm across North despite wider market decline

Andrew Black, director in the northern rural agency team at Savills (Image: Savills)

Farmland values are holding steady in the North of England, defying broader market trends and challenges in the farming sector.

New analysis from Savills shows that demand remains strong despite a dip in supply, with 13,528 acres of farmland publicly marketed in the first half of 2026—a 5.2 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year.

Andrew Black, director in the northern rural agency team at Savills, said: "While the volume of farmland coming to the market has softened slightly, demand remains robust across much of the North.

"We continue to see strong interest from established farming businesses looking to expand, alongside a range of other buyers attracted by farmland’s long-term investment credentials."

Average farmland values have stayed stable, rising by 1.3 per cent year-on-year to £7,510 per acre in June 2026.

Will Douglas, also a director in the northern rural agency team at Savills, said: "At the same time, buyers are increasingly recognising the wider opportunities land can provide, including environmental schemes, natural capital projects and renewable energy initiatives."

Despite the steady values, the volume of farmland on the market remains below long-term averages, reflecting limited availability in some areas.

Nationally, the supply of publicly marketed farmland across Great Britain dropped by 12 per cent to 88,100 acres in the first half of 2026.

This contrasts with a 1.4 per cent fall in average farmland values across Great Britain, according to the Savills Farmland Value Survey.

A shift in the types of land coming to market was also noted, with arable farmland making up 56 per cent of publicly marketed supply, compared to the 10-year average of 38 per cent.

Mixed farms accounted for just 17 per cent of supply, well below the 10-year average of 29 per cent.