Four Oxfordshire development sites have been sold by agents Savills, despite the economic downturn.

The first was a 2.42 acre Green Belt site in Eaton, west of Oxford, with the potential to convert redundant farm buildings (subject to obtaining the necessary consents), which exchanged and completed simultaneously in February.

Hall Farm Yard, Begbroke, proved to be a complex land disposal. The site, with consent for two barn conversions and three new build properties, exchanged for the guide price in March 2009 even though the original offer was submitted last September.

A site of 0.91 acres in Nether Winchendon, with detailed planning permission to convert the existing farm buildings to form three residential dwellings, exchanged in March for close to the guide price and completed in April.

Also in March a site in East Hanney of 1.3 acres, with no consent in place, exchanged and completed simultaneously for the asking price. The vendor of Kings Farm Cottages needed a swift transaction and set the completion deadline for the end of March; this was achieved with one day to spare.

Mr Keeling added: “These disposals and acquisitions show that, in a resilient area such as Oxfordshire, there is still notable demand for land in desirable locations. Rapidly changing market conditions mean it’s of paramount importance that land owners contact us sooner, rather than later, so they can capitalise on the current trend.

“Farmland is extremely resilient in terms of holding its value, a shining example being Hall Farm, Begbroke, where the asking price was maintained through six months of negotiations.”