The Hobbs Parker Blogs

Christmas Sales of Turkeys and other poultry

2011-12-02T02:12:50Z

Show time is here - we will be offering 52 long legged turkeys, chicken and geese on Monday evening (5th December) as part of our pre christmas Primestock Show. Also 77 lamb carcases and 13 pig carcases will be offered

Dressed and longlegged bird sales will take place on Thursday 15th and Tuesday 20th December here in Ashford Market. Both sales will start at 11am and the market will be open from 7am for deliveries. All birds are weighed to the nearest quarter kilo on site. Commission and market tolls rates for vendors are 17.5% plus VAT with a munimum per lot of

Machinery Sale - Fri 17 June - Catalogue Online Now

2011-06-13T09:06:44Z

Farm and Garden Machinery Sale - Friday 17th June 2011 - Catalogue Online Now

The sale includes:

Farm Machinery, Garden Equipment, Contractor's Plant, Strimmers and Mowers and a Special Section of 500 Lots of Shrubs, Trees, Plants and Bulbs at low prices direct from the Wisbech Nursery in Cambridgeshire.

View Sales Catalogue.

Job Opportunity - Senior Planning Consultant

2011-06-13T08:06:06Z

Full details here.

New case law in favour of farmers in relation to prior approval

2011-03-21T12:03:48Z

An important recent ruling by the Court of Appeal in the case of Murrell v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Broad District Council means that it will make it easier for farmers to erect new buildings.

Mr and Mrs Murrell first submitted a prior notification application to erect a 450sqm cattle building in December 2008. The Council considered the application invalid and requested further information over and above what was required for such a procedure. The application was subsequently refused after 31 of days of its original submission which is 3 days after the required 28 day period. Following a two year court battle the Court of Appeal has sided with the farmer and it has been decided that the council failed to respond to the application within the required 28 day period.

The requirements for the prior notification procedure are:
* A written description of the proposed development
* Material to be used
* A plan indicating the site
* The required fee (currently £70)

The Murrell case makes it clear that this is all that is required for a valid application and the 28 days starts when the local authority receive this information. The local authority cannot make an application invalid if it contains the necessary information. They can request further information but this does not stop the clock and it is a matter of judgement whether the farmer supplies the information.

If you would like assistance in submitting a planning application for agricultural buildings or submitting a prior notification application please do not hesitate to contact the Hobbs Parker Planning Team on 01233 506 201.

Hobbs Parker promote local business relations through young professionals network

2011-02-25T12:02:10Z

Hobbs Parker together with Hallett & Co and Wilkins Kennedy are actively encouraging the development of professional networks between businesses in Ashford to promote the local economy.

To aid in this goal the three companies have set up a group called Ashford Young Professionals who arrange both social and CPD events on a quarterly basis for the younger members of professional firms within the local area.

The next event will be a Networking and Comedy event at 7pm on the 30th March at Utopia.

If you would like to become a member of Ashford Young Professionals please email Eoin O'Connor or Victoria Phillips at EoinO@hobbsparker.co.uk and Victoria.Phillips@hobbsparker.co.uk

Job Opportunity - Head of Ashford Homes

2011-02-09T09:02:14Z

We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious candidate with Property Valuing and Negotiation experience to manage our Ashford Homes Estate Agency. This is a full time position and comes with responsibility and opportunity.

Please email CV to Bill Lightfoot:
bill.lightfoot@hobbsparker.co.uk
Hobbs Parker Estate Agents LLP, Orbital Park, Ashford, TN24 0HB

Appeal judges back farmer on polytunnels in landmark case

2011-01-28T03:01:40Z

The Court of Appeal has overturned a decision by the High Court and found that a decision to grant permission for polytunnels on a farm in the Wye Valley was in fact lawful.

The farm was granted planning permission in 2008 for polytunnels covering 255ha, of which no more than 54ha would be covered at any onetime.

Following grant of permission Wye Valley Action Association mounted a legal challenge to the council’s decision arguing that the council should have carried out an environmental impact assessment because putting up the polytunnels amounted to “projects for the use of uncultivated land or semi-natural areas for intensive agricultural purposes” under the EIA regulations.

In December 2009, the High Court agreed with the action group that the council had made an ‘error in law’ in failing to carry out an environmental impact assessment.

Lord Justice Richards, sitting with Lord Justice Rix and Lady Justice Smith, ruled the council was entitled to have concluded that the site was neither ‘uncultivated’ nor ‘semi-natural’.

Giving the leading judgment, Lord Justice Richards said: “There does seem to me to be a fundamental contrast between ‘semi-natural areas’ and land that is subject already to intensive cultivation. Natural England’s guidance expressly excludes all arable and horticulture land from the types of land considered to be semi-natural areas. In my view that is a proper reflection of the meaning of the term.”

This decision is of particular relevance to the farmers in the AONB in Kent and it removes what would have been a significant hurdle to overcome if they were seeking planning permission for polytunnels, or indeed any other development that was considered be a project using uncultivated or semi natural areas for intensive agricultural purposes.

If you are interested in using polytunnels on your farm and wish to seek planning advice or if you need advice on planning matters generally please do not hesitate to contact Jonathan Lee or Eoin O’Connor by calling 01233 506 201 or Email: EoinO@hobbsparker.co.uk

Planning seminar success

2010-12-14T04:12:58Z

Hobbs Parker Planning team hosted a successful seminar on Wednesday 8th December, entitled ‘Positive Planning’. It advised on positive approaches to nature conservation and on the issues arising from the emerging Localism Bill.

There were three speakers at the event: Nick Tardivel, principal ecologist at Lloyd Bore, David Jarman, director of planning at Hobbs Parker, and Ian Rickards, Kent Wildlife Trust.

The event was well attended by a professional audience which included architects, property developers, solicitors, surveyors, local authority planners and councilors.

If you attended the event and wish to receive an electronic copy of the presentations or wish to be included on our mailing list for future seminars please contact Eoin O'Connor at EoinO@hobbsparker.co.uk

Neighbourhood plans set to become new tier in planning system

2010-12-07T09:12:53Z

A recent white paper published by the government - Local growth: realising every place's potential has reaffirmed their commitment to introduce neighbourhood plans.
The plans will sit below local development plans in the newly structured planning system, and will be formulated by the local communities themselves. They will have to contain a presumption in favour of sustainable development and accord with local priorities, such as transport links and housing need.
The key concerns raised in planning circles are; to what extent will local authorities be willing and able to produce these plans give recent budget cuts, and how will these plans fit into the current system. Will local authorities have to have an adopted Core Strategy in place, or can neighbourhood plans be prepared first? No model has been produced to show how it will all fit together.
More details are expected to be included in the forthcoming localism bill, expected sometime this month.

For further information on neighbourhood plans please contact Eoin O’Connor at EoinO@hobbsparker.co.uk

Further free planning surgeries planned - 16th and 23rd November

2010-11-04T09:11:59Z

Headlines that affect farmers and rural businesses are announced every day: changes to agricultural policy; amendments to planning law; environmental and green belt issues; rural diversification…. the list goes on. For many, farming itself can seem bottom of the list after endless administrative, legal and financial considerations.

Helping to make sense of it all is the Property Consultancy department of the Ashford-based Hobbs Parker Group. Their role is to assist farmers, land managers and rural businesses with specialised planning and development issues. The specialised team of Consultants cover planning permissions and approvals; valuations; development appraisals including farm diversification; compulsory purchase and utilities; general policy advice; legal and enforcement matters as well as environmental and green belt considerations. As Hobbs Parker run the largest livestock market in the south east and have been advising farmers since 1850, they have considerable professional expertise and knowledge.

November sees a highly attractive offer for Hobbs Parker’s rural trade and farming clients: access to free Planning Surgeries on two of the Livestock Auction days (Tuesdays 16th and 23rd November). Appointments need to be booked ahead, but that gives an initial 15 minute session with an experienced Planning Consultant – at no cost - to discuss any planning issues, potential development proposals or other queries.

A wide range of other professional services are also on offer, covering commercial and residential properties too, ranging from design and access statements, Listed Building consents, development feasibility studies and even applications for advertisement consent – relevant if you own a shop or business premises.

Hobbs Parker Property Consultants are a division of Kent's largest Independent firm of Chartered Surveyors, Estate Agents, Auctioneers, Valuers and Business Telephone Systems & Services Suppliers. The team offers numerous specialised sectors of planning and property consultancy, built up over years of experience and are happy to discuss projects whatever the scope or size.

For further information and to book an appointment at the next available Hobbs Parker Planning Surgery, please contact Christopher Collett on 01233 506201 or email chris.collett@hobbsparker.co.uk

The Kent and Greater Essex LEP – ‘A bridge over troubled water’

2010-10-15T02:10:35Z

On the 29th June 2010 the government announced its plans for replacing Regional Development Agencies such as SEEDA with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). They invited local groups of councils and business leaders to come forward with proposals on how they would form LEPs and received 56 bids by the deadline of the 6th September.

According to the Local Government Chronicle ministers have earmarked 22 of the 56 bids to form new LEPs as ready for the green light and included in this list is the controversial Kent and Greater Essex LEP.

This LEP would include some 115,000 businesses and have a population of 3.4 million, making it larger than 13 European countries.

If the LEP does go ahead it will not be an easy marriage, Essex County Council chief executive Joanna Killian has stated that although Essex has good relations with Kent, and they do a lot of work together, a super LEP would be a step too far. Also 12 of Kent’s 13 backbench Tory MPs wrote an open letter to Vince Cable and Eric Pickles criticising the proposal and several of Kent’s local authorities have not supported the bid.

Bridges will need to be built literally and metaphorically if the bid succeds. A key goal identified in prospectus is a second Thames crossing for road and rail funded through creative private sector led funding. However, the prospectus for the bid boasts that Kent and Essex contribute £55 billion to the national economy every year which is greater than the Leeds and Manchester city regions combined, the political weight which this could bring could be enough of a carrot to ensure the bids’ success.

At present there is much uncertainty about what powers if any the LEPs will have. More information on their function will be revealed in a white paper to be published at the end of October.

If the super-LEP comes to fruition it will in effect create a new region which appears to run counter to the professed localism agenda of the government.

Hobbs Parker are pleased to keep its clients informed of all the latest developments in the Government reform agenda.

For futher information please contact Eoin O'Connor

eoinoconnor@hobbsparker.co.uk

Planning Surgery 16 & 23 November 2010

2010-10-13T03:10:11Z

Following the success of the previous surgeries at Ashford Market, we are offering two further opportunities to book an initial free 15 minute appointment with an experienced Planning Consultant to discuss your planning issue or potential development proposal.

For further information and to book an appointment please contact
Christopher Collett on 01233 506201
Or email chris.collett@hobbsparker.co.uk

Hobbs Parker Telecom acquisition brings them into the IT market

2010-09-17T05:09:31Z

Hobbs Parker have acquired the customer base from a local IT company, Liquid Knowledge in Charing, and so are adding specialist IT services to their already established telecoms business.

The expansion has been two to three years in the planning and means Hobbs Parker Telecom can now offer complete communications and technology packages – ‘converged systems’ - for customers. Robert Woods, Managing Director of Hobbs Parker Telecom, says: ‘This is an exciting time for us. By expanding the IT side of our telecoms group, we will not only be able to deliver first-rate office communications systems, but also to offer IT and hosting services alongside more traditional IT support and systems maintenance contracts. The acquisition makes us a unique one-stop option for companies of all sizes looking for communications and IT solutions.’

As part of the acquisition, Alex Tatham is also joining the Hobbs Parker team as a Technical Consultant. Alex has extensive experience as an IT specialist, particularly in the fields of server hosting, project management and software development. His role will be to develop and drive through the company’s expansion of its IT and data division as well as continuing to support the newly acquired customers.

Amongst the customers transferring their IT package to Hobbs Parker Telecom are Ashford-based solicitors, Hallett & Co. The partners at Halletts, said ‘converging our telephone and IT systems through one company makes financial and logistical sense for us.’

To complement the acquisition, Hobbs Parker Telecom is committing considerable investment into related IT infrastructure including the installation of a 100Mb line. Such is the scale and quality of the line, which guarantees exceptional reliability and the super-fast transference of data, it means that few other IT and telecoms specialists in the south-east will be able to compete at this level. As Robert Woods comments: ‘Recent changes in technology and telephony have completely transformed how businesses operate – now and in the future. At Hobbs Parker Telecom we’re actively investing in that future and as such will be one of the key operators in the south-east for complete communications and IT solutions.’

Hobbs Parker obtain Planning Permission for innovative Teaching and Student Accommodation for CATS College, Canterbury

2010-08-10T04:08:48Z

Hobbs Parker Property Consultants, working with Clague Architects, Canterbury, have obtained planning permission for the expansion of CATS College, Canterbury.

CATS College (Cambridge Arts & Technology) is a successful and long established international sixth form college, offering International Baccalaureate, A-Levels and university foundation courses.
The new teaching and accommodation block has been designed within a restricted site yet will provide 46 residential rooms for students along with 3000ft² of teaching space. The design cleverly creates a central focal point or ‘heart’ for the college, combining freestanding modern buildings within a sensitive conservation area. Traditional, local building materials are to be used, but in fresh ways, and so will both highlight and celebrate the contrast between old and new.
A number of sustainable aspects have been incorporated into the scheme, including solar gain and solar shading where required, natural ventilation via the stack effect and solar panels sited on a sedum roof.
The proposals were the subject of a consultation exhibition providing a platform for the public to express views and concerns. David Jarman, Director, Hobbs Parker Property Consultants, commented “The application proposals have evolved through ongoing negotiations with the local planning authority, and we are very pleased that – through the consultancy period - the proposals have had a very positive response, leading to the planning committee decision to grant approval, in accordance with the officer’s recommendation”.
Phase one of the building work is due to start at the end of this year. Students will be able to move into their new accommodation in September 2011. Phase two is due for completion by the end of 2013.

David Jarman Head of Hobbs Parker Planning Consultants; Planning Since 1985!

2010-08-06T09:08:36Z

A recent article in the Kentish Gazette ‘Memories’ feature included this photo of our very own Head of Hobbs Parker Planning Consultants, David Jarman, in his former role as a planning officer at Canterbury City Council. The photo from 1985, pictures David helping out sixth form pupils from the Geoffrey Chaucer School, on a project in which they had to set up a company and make it profitable. David advised on the most appropriate locations for the various business ideas that the pupils came up with. Mr Trice the sixth form head said that the project “proved a successful and useful exercise as well as being a lot of fun”, and it is proof that David Jarman really has been planning in Kent since 1985!