Our Articles & News Letters

Diversified Farm Businesses.. .. Rates …  Revaluation 2023 is underway have you received your VOA.. Form of return yet?   It’s really important to submit your information in 2021 to make sure your Rateable Value   assessment for 2023 is fair and not being overvalued. During this re-valuation   period the Valuation Office (VO) adjusts the rateable value of business properties to reflect the various changes in the market. Rural diversified businesses are currently being

Do you think your Rateable Value is too high? Or maybe you believe it’s not been fairly assessed. For example, is the description of the internal areas incorrect, or maybe the agricultural exemption has not been applied. If so, you have the right to appeal under the ‘Check, Challenge, Appeal’ system. Rosemary Brown of Bluebell Dairy, Brunswood Farm, nr Derby received a surprise visit from their VOA Inspector in August 2018. The result of an inspection

Business Rates are a tax on occupation of land and property The legal definition of Rateable Value is the Open Market Rental of your premises as at 1 April 2021 If you consider your Rateable Value is too high, or if you think it’s not been unfairly assessed for example the description, or internal areas of the property are incorrect or agricultural exemption has not been applied, you have the right to appeal under the ‘Check, Challenge

Listen to Barry Davies at the Farm Retail Association, Stronger Together event on Friday 5th March 2021 11am to 12 noon. Topic will be:- Reduce Business Rates & Secure Planning Permission – Maximising Value and Avoiding the Pitfalls https://farmretail.co.uk/stronger-together/  

The short answer is Yes . . . A massive 90% of farm businesses are small or medium sized family-based enterprises. In order to continue in this ever-changing environment and create extra income, they need to think outside the box. Over 65% of farms have in some way diversified thus enabling additional economic support to farming families and the rural economy. Farm income now supports fewer family members; therefore, diversification can introduce complementary revenue streams that can help families continue

Planning permissions due to run out in December 2020 can be extended to 1st May 2021 - in England. If your planning application is due to expire before the end of December 2020, you now have until 1st May 2021 to start the project. It does however mean that all the original pre-commencement conditions need to be discharged and that work is commenced before the end of April to ensure you implement the planning permission correctly, and meet

We provide comprehensive Planning and Business Rates advice, which can help you with your business. . .   Planning Permission Negotiating with planning authorities to secure planning permission for change of use of land and farm buildings for Glamping and associated leisure and commercial uses Planning, Design and Access Statements Submission of Planning appeals We work closely with specialist consultants and coordinate reports ... Highways, Architects, Ecology and Environmental   Business Rates Rating Audit Assessments and Appeals Advice on Agricultural and other exemptions

The Prime Minister has promised the biggest review of the English Planning System for 70 years - biggest shake-up of the Use Classes Order for a generation. In the recent Government enforced lockdown effective from 23rd March 2020, many farm attractions have opened outdoor shows and takeaways to provide a much-needed income and employment for staff.  To avoid a breach of your planning permission resulting in possibly an Enforcement Notice please ensure you notify your local Council as

Farm retailers throughout the UK are hopeful that changed shopping habits in reaction to coronavirus will last long beyond the pandemic, following an exceptional increase in new customers. Rob Copley, chairman of the Farm Retail Association, acknowledges that the challenge for farm shops as life slowly returns to some form of normality over the coming months, is to ensure that customers keep coming back. However, he is adamant that farm shops are well worth such lasting loyalty.  Mr Copley

Farm Retailers across the country are providing an abundant supply of fresh seasonal produce, sourced with low food miles directly from local family-run farms at fair prices The UK’s huge network of independent farm shops has become a more attractive option to shoppers than ever before, according to research by the Farm Retail Association (FRA). Some 79 per cent of farm retailers polled by the FRA said they had introduced a click and collect service because of

Farm retailers nationwide are hopeful that shopping habits forged as a reaction to coronavirus will last long beyond the pandemic, following an unprecedented surge in new customers. Providing reliable access to abundant fresh seasonal produce, sourced with low food miles directly from local family-run farms at fair prices, the country’s huge network of independent farm shops has become a more attractive option to shoppers than ever before, according to research by the Farm Retail Association (FRA). Some

News story Business rates revaluation postponed A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 to help reduce uncertainty for firms affected by the impacts of coronavirus. Published 6 May 2020 Last updated 6 May 2020 — see all updates From: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 to help reduce

Well don’t be - here at Davies and Co we are helping our clients in these unprecedented times, delivering knowledge and success for businesses throughout the UK during the coronavirus pandemic. In so many profound ways this emergency is touching all our lives.  We’re learning too that working together we can succeed and become even stronger. This month Davies and Co has helped several businesses find their way through the following Government initiatives. COVID-19 Business

Farm diversification helps traditional farms to branch out into other aspects of income, to either boost their normal farming income or to replace it. As a starting point there are a few things to consider before making the first move into diversification. Do you have unused farm buildings or resources? Could you put your existing farm assets to good use? Local demand – is your farm near an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a tourist destination, major landmark etc? For

Housing Minister Dominic Raab has announced changes to Permitted Development Rights for the conversion of agricultural buildings into residential dwellings (Class Q), and for new agricultural buildings. These changes are due to come into force on April 6th this year. The change allows for up to 5 new homes to be created from the conversation of an existing agricultural building, rather than the current maximum of 3. The amended development rights allow for: up to 3 larger homes within a

The Government has introduced a change to Class Q permitted development rights in February 2018, providing further clarity on the works allowable. Class Q, covering the conversion of agricultural property to residential dwellings, was introduced in 2014. The original wording focused mainly on external alterations, however, leaving internal renovations open to debate and interpretation. Because of this, many councils were denying applications made under Class Q which required internal structural changes to support or create additional floors. The new guidance

Steve Quartermain, The Chief Planner for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has stated in a letter to local authorities that the government plans to publish a draft revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) before Easter. The NPPF revisions are to include planning reforms from the housing White Paper, the Planning for the Right Homes in the Right Places consultation, and announcements from the Autumn Budget.

Barry Davies had a full house for his talk on securing planning permission at the Glamping Show on September 22nd 2017. He concluded: Environment/Highways - negotiate before application Market research - look at need and unmet demand Know the planning policy that supports your development Communicate early with local ward councillor and parish council Monitor the application Read the planning officers report very carefully - planning conditions - negotiate Always attend the planning committee meeting Be prepared for the application to be refused

Regaining possession of a protected tenancy under the Rent Act may not be achievable for many years, and with rental incomes well below current market levels, selling a tenanted property can not only release capital it is a strait forward process with exceptionally low costs. If your property does become vacant then you may well be able to ask a higher price but purchasers may well be looking to chip the price and the additional costs of marketing, professional fees

As attractions enter the winter months and the damp start to spring, and for some attractions their closed season. The question of what to offer your visitors next year is always challenging and tough decision? One option often considered by many is the introduction of a play barn or indoor play area to offer all year round weather proof fun and enjoyment. If thought about practically and carefully the introduction of a play barn could be your biggest attraction. So

Many of you may have or have not heard the phrase - Community Infrastructure Levy commonly known as a CIL… So what is a CIL, simply put it is a charge being introduced on planning permission, when planning permission is required for the development of a building. CIL’s are proposed to aid in the scaling back of s106 agreements and aims to provide a more transparent system of funding infrastructure. It is proposed that a CIL will be

As news is revealed of a voluntary approach to set aside mitigation, we now see the launch of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE). The schemes main aim is to allow farmers to demonstrate that they are able to undertake voluntary land based measures themselves without any more regulation. The scheme seeks to retain and exceed the environmental benefits that used to be provided by set aside land and actively encourages farmers and landowners to adopt voluntary land management

Your attraction may be outstanding have all the right component parts for the ideal visitor experience but if people can find you then you could be losing visitors…but how do I get brown signs? There is much confusion over Brown Signs and it is often thought that the local planning authority deals with Brown Signs, this is not the case, any proposal or application for Brown Signs is dealt with by the local highways authority on local roads

Many farms and estates have redundant farm workers cottages either on the holding or in the surrounding villages occupied by former employees of the holding and many don’t realise that these cottages are actually saleable on the open market despite the property being subject to a statutory tenancy. If you have a redundant farm workers cottage/house and you let it before the 15 January 1989 as part of that workers employment, even if no formal agreement was

As the developers arrive in their masses knocking at your door promising you a lifestyle you of wealth and leisure for your traditional farmyard/property or those couple of off lying fields you have near the by bypass, just take a moment to think what some of those mind boggling words actually mean and over what period of time the development is likely to take place? Typically developers or buyers looking to redevelop immediately or in the short term will

Year of Food & Farming could be an Education opportunity! When thinking of raising capital and generating income from redundant farm buildings, an office or storage development seems most appealing. However, as the Year of Food and Farming launches next week, another option brings itself to the table. Creating educational facilities and attractions could prove to be a great opportunity – not just financially – for farmers and landowners. The conversion of buildings or an extension to an existing building

Green Belts and Braces The original green belt policy established in 1947 seems a far cry from the green belt polices and future proposals being enforced and discussed at present. Green belts were introduced to prevent urban sprawl and provide access and create a definitive boundary between rural and urban areas, and is presently made up of some 14 green belts covering thousands of hectares. We now see proposals for thousands of new homes on green belts and proposals to

Despite the ever emerging credit crunch and declining property market, many farms, estates and private landlords may have an asset still in demand. Many landowners, estates and private landlords have redundant farm workers cottages on the holding or in the surrounding villages occupied by former employees of the holding, and in some cases many do not realise the value of these properties and that they can be sold on the open market despite the property being subject to a statutory