Outlook Summer 2017
In this edition:
We look at how owners of brownfield sites looking to bring forward housing-led development could be given permission in principle (PiP) after new planning legislation came into force on 15 April, according to Ashford-based Hobbs Parker Planning Consultants.
Steve Davies describes how we were able to help The King’s School Canterbury gain planning permission for a new 350-seat performing arts centre and residential international college.
James Hickman discusses how, over the last year, land prices have been maintained – despite the national economic and political uncertainty – thanks largely to the on-going undersupply.
Rosie Hill explains how rural businesses may claim up to 40% grants for environmental energy efficiency projects.
Sophie Walker explains how poor broadband continues to hold rural businesses back.
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Find out moreSignificant changes to Permitted Development Rights announced
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Find out moreFlurry of farms kickstart the Spring market
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Find out moreAre your grazing arrangements due a spring clean?
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Find out moreNavigating the New Rules Around Holiday Lets
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Find out moreThe End of the Four-Year Rule
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Find out moreConsidering selling your farm or land? Read our top tips first
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Find out moreGovernment Announcement on Agricultural Property Relief (APR)
Welcome news on APR with the inclusion of farmland in environmental schemes
Find out moreDelinked Payment Transfer Window Opens
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Find out moreMore grant funding released for Farm Productivity and Animal Welfare
Following the Prime Minister’s address to the National Farmers Union conference, Defra have announced the eagerly anticipated 2024 round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).
Find out moreRishi Sunak makes announcement at NFU Conference
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Find out moreOutlook - Spring 2024
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Find out moreHobbs Parker Auctioneers LLP - Directors' Roles and Responsibilites
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Find out moreOutlook - Winter 2023
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Find out moreAshford Borough Council opens 'Call for Sites' Consultation
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Find out moreOutlook - Autumn 2023
Expansion of Permitted Development Rights, developments on the Sustainable Farming Incentive and news of grants for cattle farmers
Find out moreValuable changes to Permitted Development Rights ("PDR's") are being considered
Find out moreWhat to do when a utility company wants access to your land
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Find out moreUnleashing Rural Opportunity – A Government charm offensive?
Defra has released its vision for unleashing rural opportunity covering planning, connectivity, employment and transport.
Find out moreTwo 1960’s British Classic Cars - both in British Racing Green
Find out moreThe Delinking of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) Payments
2023 marks the end of BPS payments in their current form, with Defra introducing “delinked payments” in 2024 as English agricultural policy continues its transition away from the EU’s model of financial support.
Find out moreWater Management Grant for Arable or Horticultural Businesses is now Open!
Defra has announced that the first stage of its Water Management Grant is now open for applications. Grants of up to £500,000 are available to improve water efficiency and secure water supplies for crop irrigation.
Find out moreAnimal Health and Welfare Grant announced
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Find out moreFarming Equipment and Technology Grant - Round 2 announced!
Defra has announced the second round of the popular Farming Equipment and Technology Grant, offering grants of up to £25,000 towards items that will improve agricultural sustainability, horticultural and forestry productivity, and improve animal welfare.
Find out moreBPS Entitlement trading window now open!
This year is the last year in which BPS entitlements can be traded with de-linkage set to be introduced from next year.
Find out moreNew standards added to the Sustainable Farming Incentive Scheme
DEFRA announces further developments for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship Schemes. The schemes offer new funding opportunities for farmers.
Find out moreHistoric Property Auction Particulars -- Mersham 1878
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Find out moreLivestock, land and property prices in 1972
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Find out moreChanges to Countryside Stewardship and ELM's
After months of political uncertainty, new prime ministers and cabinet reshuffles, the Government wheels are starting to turn again. The backlog of policy is beginning to come through.
Find out moreSteve Davies and Elizabeth Welch promoted to Associate Directors
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Find out moreCalling all pig, beef and dairy farmers - slurry infrastructure grant open
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Find out moreStunning photos of Mersham in the winter
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Find out moreAutumn Statement: A cautious sigh of relief for the housing market
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Find out moreTen beautiful vineyards well worth visiting near to Ashford and Tenterden
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Find out moreFive great summer days out for families in Kent
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Find out moreBPS Lump Sum Exit Scheme
Open for applications until the 30th of September 2022. To be Eligible you must have: claimed and be eligible, for BPS payments in the 2018 scheme year or in an earlier scheme year or inherited […]
Find out moreDevelopment Sites
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Find out moreTax Advice
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Find out moreLand market remains strong
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Find out more£30m grant funding for farm diversification announced
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DEFRA have confirmed that the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will launch in June 2022. We will continue to publish more detailed information once the scheme details are released. Here is an overview of the first […]
Find out moreWoodland Creation Grants - Up to £8,500 per hectare
Woodlands are a unique asset with potential to provide a variety of benefits for their owners and users. Converting marginal or unproductive land into new woodland could create a new income stream for farmers and […]
Find out moreOpportunities and challenges ahead
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Find out moreFarmers could receive up to £100,000 to give up their land
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Find out moreGenerous new grants launched to increase productivity on your farm
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Find out moreIncreased payments for Countryside Stewardship Schemes (CSS)
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Find out moreLocal Nature Recovery (LNR) and Landscape Recovery (LR)
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Find out moreMy five favourite classic cars from our 2021 auctions
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Find out moreGold award from our clients
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Find out moreVicky Phillips passes the RICS Expert Witness Certificate
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Find out moreHow I nearly made a pig's ear of selling my own house
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Find out moreSustainable Farming Incentive
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Find out moreTimbeeeeeeeer!
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Find out moreRewilding in Agricultural Tenancies
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Find out moreNew grant scheme targets AONBs and National Parks
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Find out moreBiodiversity 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 moreJaguar F-TYPE, E-TYPE, I-PACE or trusty Ford S-Max?
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Find out moreMore powers to tenants
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Find out moreThe 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 moreVery small ski chalet for sale!
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Find out moreGrants and Subsidies
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Find out moreHow many Ashfords are there in the UK?
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Find out moreTips to help you establish a great Wild Garden
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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 moreWhat a year!
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Find out moreStour 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 moreAll 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 morePublic 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 moreKent 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 moreHave 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 moreLand 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 […]
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Find out moreAgricultural Property Relief - Don’t let the taxman harvest more than his due
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Find out moreAgriculture 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 moreWanting 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 moreRural 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 […]
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Find out moreInheritance Tax Review
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Find out moreHow to protect your land from the creation of new rights of way
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Find out morePlanning regime changes to allow more flexible use of buildings
The Government initially implemented Permitted Development Rights (PDR) to make it relatively simple to convert office space into residential accommodation, and now it has made further changes which allow premises used as shops, for financial […]
Find out moreAssets for sale? Take time to qualify for relief
Under this relief, qualifying assets result in a reduced rate of Capital Gains Tax of 10% on the value of the sale, with a limit of up to £10 million during your lifetime. Compared against […]
Find out moreOtties 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 […]
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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 morePermitted development in town centres
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Find out moreTenancy planning for landowners
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Find out moreNetflix 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 moreThinking 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 moreHousing secured in the Green Belt
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Find out moreNational 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 moreMake the right choice for your farm dispersal sale
For them it can be a stressful event, full of important decisions and the responsibility to maximise income. Despite how it might look to anyone turning up on the day, every farm dispersal sale comes with its own list […]
Find out moreVicky 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 moreChange 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 moreHobbs Parker welcomes new Senior Planner to the team
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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 moreSolar 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 moreWhy 2019 is the right time to invest in Ashford
“If you have ever wished you’d invested somewhere that has regenerated, you will know that you are already too late.” These are the words of Alex Davies, Managing Director for Hobbs Parker Estate Agents, an […]
Find out moreGreen 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 moreTen of the world's best selling Prius hybrid cars for sale
Today we will be selling ten of the world’s best selling hybrid cars. If you’ve been to Gatwick or Heathrow airport you will probably have seen hundreds of these dependable and economical cars ferrying passengers 24 […]
Find out moreWonderful Jaguar XJ8 For Sale
This is a wonderfully rare car from a lovely local family who purchased it new. There certainly cannot be many with this provenance. Just the one owner with only 18,000 miles. The owners, a local […]
Find out moreThe History of W & B Hobbs and The Hobbs Parker Group
This clip from the Kentish Gazette dated 28th August 1849 casts doubt on the firm’s long-held belief that W & B Hobbs was established in 1850. It has piqued my interest in the early years of our […]
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Find out moreA 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 more19 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 moreThe Best Restaurants in Kent and East Sussex
This article was written a few years ago and some of the details may be out of date. Please contact the restaurants for further information before travelling. The next best thing to eating good food, […]
Find out moreListed Buildings Advice
The market for period property is booming and the older the house or cottage, the more likely it is to be listed. By listing a property, it celebrates a building’s special architectural and historic features […]
Find out moreOutlook Summer 2017
In this edition: We look at how owners of brownfield sites looking to bring forward housing-led development could be given permission in principle (PiP) after new planning legislation came into force on 15 April, according […]
Find out moreThe best pubs in and around Ashford and Tenterden
When I was young going to the pub generally meant me and my siblings sitting in the beer garden squabbling over a pack of Ready Salted whilst my parents nipped in for a pint and […]
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Find out morePlanning 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 moreCould 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 moreIs 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 moreFavourable 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 […]
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Recent research suggests that the level of income people aspire to retire on each year has increased from £35,000 to £42,000 yet this would require a pension pot of more than £1 million. Evidence shows […]
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As the weather gets colder and darker, and the heating and lights stay on longer, there’s one thing I can predict with even more certainty than the Queen’s Speech broadcasting on Christmas Day. The arrival […]
Find out moreIs it time to loosen the Green Belt?
With demand for housing continuing at an unprecedented rate, despite the possible implications of Brexit, some people are asking: Is it time to review the Green Belt and its role and current size? However, Sajid […]
Find out morePlans for new home in AONB given consent
Permission has been granted to replace vacant farm buildings with a three bedroom house on farmland in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) overlooking the Pilgrims’ Way in Brabourne. Ashford Borough Councillors voted by […]
Find out moreRenewable Energy – is it beginning to run on empty?
Last year didn’t end brightly, and despite what’s happening in other countries, 2016 could see the beginning of the dark ages for renewable energy projects in the UK. As if the changes in feed-in tariffs […]
Find out morePermitted 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 moreAgricultural 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 moreOur recommended golf courses in Kent and East Sussex
As a golfing destination, Kent and East Sussex has a huge amount going for it. We’re blessed with a better than average climate (compared with other parts of the UK) which means we enjoy more […]
Find out moreHow 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 moreWhat 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 […]
Find out moreThe best beaches in Kent and East Sussex
We explore the best beaches in Kent and East Sussex — for your children, dogs and foodie friends — as we work our way round the South East’s beautiful coastline. It’s a funny thing that […]
Find out moreWhy do kitchens sell houses?
The party is in the kitchen! When we have a party at our house my wife and I spend hours making our living room look nice and then most of the evening trying to get […]
Find out moreIs selling some land an option in 2016?
There appears to be very little confidence of an improvement in outlook for the agricultural sector in the short term. So, is selling an option for some in 2016? The controversial option is to sell […]
Find out moreNew team rising to challenge
New team rising to challenge To ensure Hobbs Parker Property Consultants respond to the need for the best possible property, land, planning and development advice, we have made a number of changes to our senior […]
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