Rural England Prosperity Fund – Levelling Up the Rural Economy
The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), is described by DEFRA as a complementary top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The REPF appears to be a successor of the LEADER or Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which will be familiar to many. The REPF fund was released by DEFRA to function alongside the existing Farming in Protected Landscapes programme and the...
What are the major concerns facing British farmers today?
Harvest, yields, field fires, drought, markets, winter drilling campaigns, input prices, and so on. Farmers’ minds are currently occupied with major events, processes and decision-making synonymous with this time of and the current climate. Speaking with others within the industry and reading through farming press, it appears as though these issues are at the...
What can you do to limit the impact of rising temperatures on your farm?
This week we saw field fires in multiple counties across the UK. This unprecedented heat seen throughout the UK has brought to light the growing impact of climate change on our countryside. It has become increasingly clear that, while these are currently exceptional circumstances, they will eventually turn into yearly occurrences, as we have seen in Australia, California,...
Added Value Grant – A New Opportunity
As we have often discussed, the funding of farm diversification projects appears to be a significant obstacle for many farm businesses. Many diversification projects require large amounts of capital expenditure. The current market volatility and soaring input costs place UK farmers in a position where they face larger than ever, looming operational costs.
Having a robust...
Class R Permitted Development
Many farms have outdated, redundant or underutilised buildings, originally constructed for the purpose of serving the agricultural enterprise. Technological advancements and changing circumstance often creates the scenario where a particular building is no longer fit for agricultural use.
Sound familiar? Could these buildings be put to a better use, generating increased...
Class Q Permitted Development
Do you have outdated, underutilised and decaying farm buildings? Have you ever thought about the opportunity to convert them into residential dwellings? If so, Class Q permitted development rights may be of interest to you.
Rural house prices remain high and the bullish demand seen recently seems set to remain constant. The rural housing market therefore offers rural...