London Colney farmland up for sale

Questions are being asked about the future development of a 35-acre piece of farmland being sold in London Colney.

Savills Cambridge has announced that the site – arable land near J22 of the M25 next to the de Havilland Aircraft Museum, and near Arsenal’s and Watford Football Club’s training grounds – is being sold for a guide price of £325,000.

However the sale has prompted a local councillor to call on the future landowner to work with local authorities should they wish to submit a planning application.

The site is located next to the aircraft museum at Salisbury Hall Farm, an area steeped in history as Salisbury Hall, formerly Shenley Manor, has associations with Charles II and Nell Gwyn.

A soil survey shows the land, the equivalent of about 14 hectares, is suitable for growing winter cereals, potatoes, vegetables and grassland.

Catherine Scandrett, of Savills’ rural department in Cambridge, said as well as being productive arable land, the site also has mineral reserves, which are being sold with the land.

However that is subject to a mineral lease, in favour of the vendor, with a royalty paid to the purchaser at a prevailing market rent.

St Albans district councillor for London Colney Jacob Quagliozzi said: “Like lots of London Colney residents I’ll be keeping a close eye on the sale.

“I hope that any buyer will work with the parish council and local district councillors should there be a future application on this site.

“While this is technically in Hertsmere borough, local authority boundaries mean little to most residents and development on this site could have the potential to affect London Colney.”