Is your business ready for the Agriculture Bill?
Ensuring your business thrives post-BPS
The Secret of Getting Ahead is Getting Started
The time immortal words of Mark Twain continue to strike a chord as Britain’s second agricultural revolution starts to take shape.
We now know BPS is going, and much faster than expected. The first £30,000 of the annual payments are taking a modest 5% cut this year (2021) with a 15% year on year cut reaching a 50% reduction by 2024. The cuts get deeper as the claim size increases.
There are further details of this in our blog post here >>
The Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMs) will plug the gap for some, but it’s likely that this will focus on areas of special environmental interest such as chalk downland or peat upland, or on public access. Potentially it’s less helpful for straight forward arable ground and it’s here that other opportunities may need pursuing.
Get on the front foot now
The 2021 cut is gentle and as such now is the time to plan for the future, whether that is succession planning, diversifying, investing in buildings, machinery or technology or pursuing an opportunity to purchase your farm tenancy.
Whilst the AMC weren’t quite around at the time of the first agricultural revolution, they have, for the past 90+ years specialised in supporting rural businesses, weathering many storms during this period.
As your leading AMC Agents, Hobbs Parker and our AMC Agent Team are here to support you in the current uncertain climate and build a stronger more resilient business for the future.
What does AMC Offer?
- Peace of mind – that you are working with a lender who has 90+ years of commitment to the sector.
- Local contact – working with longstanding AMC Agent – Hobbs Parker.
- Long term loans – committed for the term, with no annual reviews or renewal fees.
- Fixed or variable interest rates – on either Interest Only or Repayment basis.
In the last year Hobbs Parker have undertaken AMC applications for farm shops, new accommodation to support the next generation, funding for land purchases to enable expansion and tenant’s buying their freehold, as well as refinancing of current overdraft and bank loan facilities.
Loans start from £25,001 upwards with the option to set pay back anywhere from 5 to 30 years at competitive rates.
Mark Twain’s simple solution for big problems!
“The secret of getting started is breaking complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting with the first one.”
For a confidential, no obligation discussion about the future of your farming business (your first step) contact us today – call 01233 506201.
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There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
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Find out more Opportunities and challenges ahead
However, with these new opportunities, come challenges as the agriculture sector faces increasing demand to reduce its carbon footprint, whilst inflationary pressures are making everyday business more challenging. Here we look at some of the […]
Find out more Increased payments for Countryside Stewardship Schemes (CSS)
DEFRA has announced that payment rates for many Countryside Stewardship revenue options will increase by up to 30%. This is for both existing and new agreements.
Find out more Local Nature Recovery (LNR) and Landscape Recovery (LR)
These recent announcements focus on Local Nature Recovery (LNR) and Landscape Recovery (LR), together with some good news in respect of Countryside Stewardship revenue payments.
Find out more DEFRA release details of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) rollout 2022
The proposed rollout is the first element of the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS). The agreements will last 3 years, with payments made quarterly. There will be no minimum or maximum land areas and applicants […]
Find out more Development land market in the pandemic
Well as it happens, I am pleased to say that Jon Rimmer, Sam Snart and I have been incredibly busy, and the development world has kept on turning. It’s populated by optimistic, resourceful and determined […]
Find out more Vicky Phillips passes the RICS Expert Witness Certificate
For those outside of the legal profession, there are few venues in everyday life more daunting than the courtroom. This applies if you are there as one of the parties, seeking for a Judge or […]
Find out more Sustainable Farming Incentive
The first phase is due to be rolled out to all BPS claimants from mid-2022 with a full launch in 2024. Payments will be in addition to the Basic Payment Scheme and the SFI is […]
Find out more Timbeeeeeeeer!
DEFRA have brought in a reverse auction system whereby landowners seeking to create woodland in England over the next 30 years can bid to secure government issued carbon credits, through competitive bidding to establish a […]
Find out more Rewilding in Agricultural Tenancies
Most existing agricultural tenancies will not properly capture these opportunities so it is important for landlords and tenants to discuss and agree who might ultimately benefit from any new arrangements relating to biodiversity gain, nutrient […]
Find out more New grant scheme targets AONBs and National Parks
The scheme is for one-off projects which: support nature recovery mitigate the impacts of climate change provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage support nature-friendly, sustainable farm […]
Find out more Biodiversity Net Gain - what we know so far
The Environment Bill of 2018 contained a proposal by the Government to make this a mandate to be demonstrated by all development proposals in order to obtain planning permission. It is now identified as policy […]
Find out more Rights of Way
As England entered Lockdown 3.0, despite the weather, the ‘daily walk’ once again came to the fore as a valuable source of respite. While it’s great to see people enjoying the countryside, the flip-side for […]
Find out more Rent review - Is now the time?
Tenants are reluctant to seek a rent review for fear of upsetting a longstanding relationship with their landlord, and many landlords want to agree a compromise to maintain a sustainable relationship going forward. Rent formulas […]
Find out more More powers to tenants
Years of lobbying by the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has finally resulted in successful amendments to The Agriculture Act to make retirement and succession under old farming tenancies easier. Here’s a few areas that have […]
Find out more The Importance of Place Making – Will A National Design Code Assist?
The main criticism of new development is that it does not create the quality of environment that we like. We all have our favourite places to visit, the place where the mix of buildings and […]
Find out more Grants and Subsidies
Through the agricultural transition plan, the Government sets out its vision. It’s a useful starting point, although currently it does not provide all the answers and we await detailed, costed guidance. WHAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE? […]
Find out more Is your business ready for the Agriculture Bill?
The time immortal words of Mark Twain continue to strike a chord as Britain’s second agricultural revolution starts to take shape. We now know BPS is going, and much faster than expected. The first £30,000 […]
Find out more The Agricultural Transition Plan – Is your business prepared?
Plans to deliver a fairer farming system were set out by the government on the 30th October with the release of the “Agricultural Transition Plan”. The plan will transform the way farmers are supported from […]
Find out more What a year!
We have continued to support and advise our clients, whether this is in the livestock market, selling property, or undertaking professional work. We have a great team of professionals and they have worked hard to […]
Find out more Stour Catchment Planning Update
In July 2020, Natural England issued water quality advice that had an immediate impact on planning applications for new homes located within the Stour Catchment, although it took until late September for Local Authorities to […]
Find out more All change for the land market?
In a past and present of uncertainty and volatility; and with increasingly negative media speculation in relation to the future economy, perhaps now is the time to sell up and move on? We have been […]
Find out more Public money for public goods
Currently applications for Countryside Stewardship will remain open until 2023. After which it is mooted that a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) may be introduced to bridge the gap between the end of the Basic Payment […]
Find out more Kent and East Sussex - Local Plan updates and deadlines
Local plans are important planning policy documents which are used to guide development to certain areas. These plans take a long time in the making, which means that there are only certain times in perhaps […]
Find out more Have your say now on the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS)
As part of this, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has opened a public consultation on the proposed new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS). This will be DEFRA’s cornerstone agricultural policy paying […]
Find out more Land and property market has woken up
The Friday after the General Election, when we woke up to an 80-seat majority for the Conservatives, three and a half years of weak government came to an end. And with it a large dose […]
Find out more Delinking could drive diversification and land sales
Delinking looks set to be a major change of the Agriculture Bill as payments to current recipients will no longer be conditional on remaining in farming. Consultation on this issue is expected later this year, […]
Find out more What's the future for the Basic Payment Scheme?
The phasing out of the Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) will be one of the biggest challenges for farmers and landowners when the Agricultural Bill is introduced. Nothing major will change for 2020 as payments will […]
Find out more Agricultural Property Relief - Don’t let the taxman harvest more than his due
The first-tier tribunal decision in Charnely vs HMRC centred on to what extent a 79-year-old Lancashire farmer could be considered to have been actively farming at the time of his death. Broadly, HMRC argued he […]
Find out more Agriculture Bill - What could it mean for landowners and farmers?
Our attention must be on the Agriculture Bill, which the Government hopes to have in place by the spring to allow the country to develop its own agricultural policy. Change is the only certainty; the […]
Find out more Wanting to plough your grassland?
The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (EIA) Regulations came into force in 2006 with the aim of protecting environmentally significant areas from being damaged by agricultural works. Broadly speaking, where agricultural land has not been physically […]
Find out more Rural Funding Opportunities
Defra has confirmed £35 million of funding will be made available to rural businesses under the RDPE Growth Programme. A share of the Rural Development Programme money – minimum level £20,000 – is available to […]
Find out more Agricultural Occupancy Condition
Family decisions from days gone by can have a lasting impact on farms today, as has recently been discovered by a number of families who have found reason to ask Hobbs Parker Property Consultants for […]
Find out more Inheritance Tax Review
While the government continues to muddle through Brexit, and the opposition is busy publishing “Land for the Many” suggesting much wider and more radical reforms, in the background the Civil Service continues to quietly review […]
Find out more How to protect your land from the creation of new rights of way
While everyone should be able to appreciate and enjoy the British countryside, public access causes a range of issues and it is in landowners’ interest to prevent new routes being created. Increasing levels of dog […]
Find out more Otties Farm - New Dairy for yoghurt and cheese making
Three generations have worked the land at Ottinge since the turn of last century. The rolling green hills of the Elham Valley make for perfect dairy country and so the cows arrived to the pastures […]
Find out more The farming voice must be heard for a Green Brexit
The beginning of May sees the deadline for Kent landowners and farmers to give their views on DEFRA’s ‘Health & Harmony: The Future for Food, Farming and the Environment in a Green Brexit’. If adopted, […]
Find out more Planning permission granted for 14 homes in Whitfield
Proposals to build 14 high quality homes at Whitfield have been given the go-ahead by Dover District Council. Permissions for the new four and five bed properties was secured by Hobbs Parker Property Consultants, with […]
Find out more How to make the best of a Compulsory Purchase Order
As a result there is likely to be an ongoing demand to use compulsory purchase powers (CPOs) to make it all happen – and that can often be difficult for the landowner unless they’ve got […]
Find out more Permitted development in town centres
Potential planning changes could have implications for our town centres, which is timely given the ongoing crop of high profile retail administrations. The Government consultation on Permitted Developments Rights covering the upward extensions of buildings […]
Find out more Tenancy planning for landowners
As politicians continue to wrestle with Brexit, there is obviously significant uncertainty. What we do know is that Brexit – if it happens – will bring changes, and landlords and tenants alike should be prepared. There could be changes to financial […]
Find out more Netflix linked with move to Ashford?
The possible plans for a European filming hub presented recently to Ashford Borough Council could transform the long-abandoned Newtown railway works into seven state-of-the-art film studios. If the project goes ahead, the studios could sit […]
Find out more Thinking local is the answer when planning to develop
Successful development is often about having the right land in the right place, but when it comes to the right timing, the progress of the Local Plan process can often make or break a deal or decision. With districts […]
Find out more Housing secured in the Green Belt
A Grade II-listed oast house and associated farm buildings will be transformed into six homes after Sevenoaks District Council gave the green light for the development at Foxbury Farm, Stone Street, near Seal. Permission has been given to convert the […]
Find out more National Planning Policy Framework update
The redesign of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has given councils greater powers to promote housing. However, the Government can now punish councils if they don’t deliver the presumption in favour of sustainable development. The reality is most authorities, cashstrapped by […]
Find out more Vicky Phillips returns to Hobbs Parker's Property Consultants team
Having reached the position of Partner in her previous role at a national firm, Vicky has a wealth of experience in farm, land and estate valuations in the south-east and nationally, for private client, high […]
Find out more Change of use and permitted development to support the high street
‘Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes’, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, consults on possible new permitted development (PD) rights which could make it easier to change the use of buildings […]
Find out more Hobbs Parker welcomes new Senior Planner to the team
Senior Planning Consultant Elizabeth Welch joins the team after almost a decade at Dover District Council. Prior to her local authority work, Elizabeth has worked at Bovis Homes, Barton Wilmore and Ward Homes. She is a fully qualified Chartered Town Planner […]
Find out more Inheritance tax relief for farm businesses
It is not uncommon for farm businesses to shy away from Inheritance Tax planning, as it is sometimes controversial within families, and almost always time-consuming. However, a proactive approach is vital in tax planning to ensure eligibility for relevant reliefs. Farm […]
Find out more Solar farms advice for landowners
The key advancement is the reduction of installation costs and increase in efficiency of the solar panels. The average installation is priced at around £600,000 per MW compared to £1.4m in 2011, and wholesale energy prices are still […]
Find out more Green plans could mean red light for development
Ashford-based Hobbs Parker Property Consultants LLP (HPPC) is concerned that if confirmed DEFRA’s consultation about development delivering a bio-diversity net gain will introduce an additional requirement on developers that will need to be addressed from […]
Find out more A development opportunity half done!
Congratulations, you did it. Your local authority has granted you planning permission for development. It’s in your hand, signed. The corks are popping! Hold on just a minute, because as well as you’ve done so far, […]
Find out more 19 New Development Sites for Ashford
The draft local plan was put out to consultation last year. It has been reviewed by the Council and the latest version of the plan is due to be put to the Council’s cabinet with […]
Find out more Planning to succeed
As a result, development can be difficult, especially for housebuilders, as many local communities fail to recognise the need to increase the demand of the growing population. The Government, which is publicly committed to delivering a […]
Find out more Could the latest business rates revaluation hit your pocket?
Farm buildings and agricultural land will continue to be exempt from business rates as long as they are being used for agriculture. However, many farmers may have diversified since the last revaluation in 2010 and […]
Find out more Is now the right time to diversify?
As well as developing your business plan and securing the necessary finance, many face the challenge of avoiding lengthy and costly planning applications, especially with many farms being in the AoNB or close to SSSIs […]
Find out more Favourable exchange rate brings timely relief to farmers
Recent forecasts for net farm income for all farm types for the year to March 2016 are down by 25 per cent, equivalent to an average of £13,000. The 2016 exchange rate for this year’s […]
Find out more Permitted Development Rights for rural buildings
The current legislation offers an excellent opportunity to farmers and landowners to quickly and cost-effectively secure planning permission for new dwellings in rural areas. It applies to buildings up to 450m2 in area and/or three […]
Find out more Agricultural Grant Scheme Launched for Hedgerows and Boundaries
The deadline for applications is 30 April. Benefits may be obtained for capital items such as hedge planting, laying and coppicing, earth bank restoration stone-faced bank repair and restoration, and stone wall restoration. A woodland […]
Find out more How to gain planning permission -- a view from both sides of the fence
Having joined Hobbs Parker Property Consultants six months ago, with nearly 30 years’ planning experience gained at Canterbury City Council and local authorities, Steve Davies gives an insight into the world on both sides […]
Find out more What does Brexit mean for the whole planning system?
It’s been impossible to get away from the issue of the European Union referendum and the vote to leave. However, it’s important to consider what it might mean for the whole planning environment and how […]
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