Despite an extremely slow start, 2016 turned out to be quite a busy year, so much so that the supply of land to the market may not be back by as much as what was originally perceived.

The year brought some fabulous farms to the market and although almost every sector of the farming community was met with challenges, the demand for land remained relatively steady.

Overall, auctions performed reasonably well, deals were done and farms got across the line. But one size doesn’t fit all – today’s market is clearly regional-based where prices are almost wholly determined by property type and location, land quality and the critical need for local buyers.

As we embark on the festive season, the final big farm of 2016 has just been launched to the open market. With an address at Fordrath and Otterstown, Athboy, Co Meath, the property stands on circa 81 acres of grazing ground situated on the main Trim/Athboy road. For those who travel this road, the Fordrath farm is likely to be very familiar to them, situated on the left hand side on approach to Athboy, partly located within the speed limit.

Used down through the years to graze cattle, the land is set out in one 81-acre block, intersected by the Yellow Ford river. When I was there last week, boundaries and hedges were neatly trimmed back and there was a nice cover of grass for the time of year. Laid out in circa four good-sized divisions, the land is level, has a natural water supply and would be regarded as very good quality.

Offering future development potential, the Fordrath and Otterstown farm comes with full planning permission for a 104-bed nursing home standing on circa 10.47 acres. Complete with the remains of a derelict stone cottage, this site is located on the main Trim/Athboy road and is just over half a mile from the main street in Athboy, making it a very attractive project for someone with the cash and medium-term vision to pursue the construction of a nursing home. For sale as a single lot, the 10.47-acre site is guided in the region of €225,000.

The remaining lots include 12.8 acres – which adjoins the nursing home site on the Trim road – guided at €130,000, while the biggest lot extends to 57.62 acres, located this time on the Athboy/Kildalkey road. Complete with cattle handling facilities, the 57.62 acres has its own central farm roadway and features two access points off the Kildalkey road. It is guided at €550,000.

Just new to the market, the property is for sale by private treaty through joint agents Chris Smith from Quillsen Auctioneers, Navan, and Raymond Potterton Auctioneers, Navan.

Despite having the development site, the keen circa €905,000 price tag on the entire would not be out of a farmer’s reach. Equally, one couldn’t rule out the possibility of some Northern or business-based interest given the prominent location of the property.