Nearly 80 acres of 'strategic land' in Chester on the market for £5m

Offers are being sought for Blacon House Farm, off Saughall Road, with the 78.97 acres (319,581 sq m) being advertised as 'strategic land'.

Property firm Jackson-Stops says the land would provide purchasers "with the rare opportunity to acquire an extremely strategic block of land within close proximity of Chester University and the city centre", with "medium to long-term development prospects".

Concerns have been raised by a Blacon community group over the potential sale of the land and the type of future development that could follow.

Blacon House Farm is located between Blacon and the Greyhound Retail Park. Picture: Google.

Friends of Blacon Meadows has highlighted that the land has flooded at least once every year for the past five years, and is currently gathering information on the site while liaising with the Environment Agency on the potential flood risks posed by any future developments.

Currently, Blacon House Farm is designated as a flood reservoir by the Environment Agency, diverting surplus water from the water courses connecting into Finchett's Gutter when flooding is experienced upstream.

Estate agents Jackson-Stops said future development opportunities for part of the land could include a new leisure centre, swimming pool complex and student accommodation.

The firm states: "The University occupies several sites located on the periphery of the city and indeed beyond. With this in mind Blacon House Farm, being within walking distance of the main University campus, is an ideal location to provide additional student accommodation which will in turn release existing premises for alternative uses."

Alternatively, the firm says a new road scheme could be developed "to relieve traffic congestion" on both the Greyhound Retail Park and Chester Retail Park, as well as creating a flood defence, releasing land for further development.

Blacon House Farm is being sold as 'strategic land' with a guide price of £5 million. Picture: Google.

The property firm adds the land could also be transformed into "a country park which could incorporate lakes and water features to satisfy the Environment Agency and address the requirement for a flood reservoir."

Blacon House Farm has most recently been used as a relatively open parcel of land in agricultural production, and is said to be 10-20ft above sea level and "capable of supporting grass and arable cropping".

The property firm also cites the nearby development of 142 homes being built off Clifton Drive. Anwyl Homes has been transforming a 13-acre site and that development, featuring two, three, and four-bedroom homes, is named Deva Green. It followed an eight year long saga, which had seen multiple applications and appeals, a public inquiry, and the involvement of government ministers.

Offers for Blacon House Farm, with a guide price of £5 million, are being sought by noon on Wednesday, July 27, with the acceptance of a tender to be notified by August 10 at the latest.