DEMAND for farmland in Cumbria has continued to increase at a steady rate despite the recession, according to experts in the area.

An auction of agricultural land in Eden proved that interest in the region is high, with one lot of almost 34 acres beating expectations by selling for £6,259 per acre – more than the national ave-rage of £5,816 per acre.

Two sections of land at Langrigg House, Warcop, were up for grabs at the auction at Great Musgrave, Kirkby Stephen, which led to the auction room filling up.

Lot 1 comprised 33.87 acres of grassland, with roadside access and both mains and natural water supplies.

And though bidding began slowly, it steadily reached £212,000 or £6,259 per acre.

Lot 2 was 6.02 acres of grassland in a single enclosure with access and a natural water supply. It made £22,000 or £3,654 per acre.

Oliver Bateman, agent for Eden-based PFK Land Agency, said: “Our recent auctions have brought a variety of land to the market.

"The land at Langrigg went to local farming buyers suggesting there is still plenty of dem-and from the sector when the right type of land is available.”

Another sale two days later saw 6.50 acres of Soulby grassland, near Kirkby Stephen, sell for £39,000. or the equivalent of £6,000 per acre.

“Generally the market is very buoyant - there is no doubt about that,” said Mr Bateman.

“The land at Keswick was bought by a horse owner, so non-farming buyers are also very important and help to achieve higher prices.”

The price of farmland remains at record highs, having grown over the past 12 months by 17 per cent.

Expert observers such as Andrew Shirley, head of rural land research at Knight Frank, believe the buoyancy of the market will help the sector survive the poor economic climate.

RICS North West rural sector spokesman Graham Bowcock said: “There has been a bit of a resurgence in the red meat price, which means sheep and beef farmers in Cumbria are finding things have improved a little and may be encouraged to stay on for another couple of years and see how it goes.

“Another factor could be that farmland is exempt from inheri-tance tax, so land tends to stay in families over generations.

"All of this improves the value of the land and as I always say they are not making any more of it.”