Home Bargains founder buys 5,000 acres in Lancashire to help British farmers

The founder of Home Bargains has bought nearly 5,000 acres of farmland in Lancashire in a bid to help farmers ‘grow and promote British produce’.

A company set up by Home Bargains boss Tom Morris, The Halsall Estate Limited, has purchased the land from the Church of England in a deal potentially worth up to £50 million.

The 67-year-old billionaire is the director of The Halsall Estate Limited, a company which was incorporated in January, ITV News reports.

It has now purchased 4,960 acres of land located at Halsall, West Lancashire.

Ian Rainey / Geograph

The Church Commissioners, who sold the land, administers the property assets of the Church of England – in total they manage around 95,000 acres of land as well as an £8.7 billion investment fund.

The Halsall Estate Limited said in a statement: “Following the purchase of Halsall Estate, all tenants have been assured that the terms of their existing tenancies will be honoured and there has been no change to any tenancy agreements on our behalf, before or after the purchase.

“Our aim is to work with local farmers to grow and promote British produce.”

Betty Longbottom / Geograph

A Church Commissioners for England spokesperson said it had ‘completed on the sale of 4,960 acres of land at Halsall, West Lancashire.’

They added: “All parties affected have been notified and where tenancies are in place these will remain.”

Mr Morris is known to be publicity-shy.  Born to a Liverpool shopkeeper he’s one of seven siblings, and set up Home Bargains in the city back in 1976.

Joseph Morris, his brother, is currently the company’s operations director.