What's New

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has launched a consultation for greater transparency regarding contractual controls over land (option agreements), with proposals to create a dataset comprising the “what”, “where”, “who” and “when” of contractual control agreements. The consultation closes 20th March 2024. There is a similar consultation regarding greater transparency where land ownership involves trusts (closing 21st February 2024 - see CAAV 11th January...

The Statutory Rule for the Farming for the Generations Scheme in Northern Ireland has now been made, to take effect on 1st March. This note provides more information on the scheme.

The Valuation Office Agency has launched new standards to encourage good practice from agents when representing customers on business rates and Council Tax. The VOA Agent Standards set out how agents must act in: their behaviourtheir professional practice They also set out the level of service agents should provide to their customers, such as providing clear communications and responding in a timely manner....

Updated guidance 'Understanding the possession action process' has been published for private residential landlords in England, with the associated guidance for tenants similarly updated. Changes to the guidance clarify that form 6A (or a document setting out the same information as required on that form), must be provided to serve a Section 21 notice. There is also inclusion of a new link in the private landlord guidance to provide further information about the Housing Loss Prevention Advice...

The Geospatial Commission is continuing its work on rolling out a digital map, generally known as the 'National Underground Asset Register' (NUAR), showing underground cables and pipes. Ultimately providing information on buried services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and intended to reduce accidental asset strikes. The platform is to be fully operational by the end of 2025 but is currently restricted to asset owners, such as utility companies, transport and local authorities. A...

This note reviews LJ Fairburn & Son Ltd & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs [2024] EWHC 65 (Admin). The High Court has now herd cases from several poultry farmers on the compensation provisions for avian influenza (AI) both before and after the change of policy in October 2022.

From 12th February 2024, Biodiversity Net Gain becomes a condition of planning consent for major development in England. It will then be a requirement for small sites – as defined in the regulations – from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from November 2025. Ahead of the policy becoming a planning requirement, the CAAV has briefed members on the development of BNG over the past few years with a range of notes, resources and briefing documents...

The Government have announced the formal lifting of safeguarding directions for the Phase 2a route between the West Midlands and Crewe. Safeguarding will remain in place for land close to Handsacre, as this is still required to connect HS2 Phase 1 to the West Coast Main Line.

This Order amends the Units of Production figures in England with effect from 22nd February 2024, as summarised in CAAV Note 16th January 2024.

The following notes set out the Units of Production figures, taking effect from 22nd February 2024 in England, with a separate Order for Wales, taking effect from 7th February 2024.

This Order amends the Units of Production figures in Wales with effect from 7th February 2024, as summarised in CAAV Note 16th January 2024.

With the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 on the statute book, the Government is now consulting on the use of “street votes” as a new means to achieve planning permission for development in England. Responses are due by 2nd February. The note below provides further information.

The National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agency Team has now issued enlarged guidance as to what is “material information” for property sales and lettings in the context of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, essentially focussed on residential sales and leases and applying across the United Kingdom. The note below provides further information.

The Government issued this consultation between Christmas and the New Year seeking views on greater transparency of land ownership where it involves trusts. Responses are requested by 21st February. This note sets out more detail.

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation with a view to updating the legislation on the management of wild deer. The consultation follows the report of the Deer Working Group in 2020. The proposed legislative changes seek to improve deer management taking into consideration climate change and biodiversity. Changes to legislation that were made in 2023 include to remove the close season for all male deer, to enable the wider use of non-toxic ammunition and to facilitate night...

Following an earlier note, this update provides more detail on the Secretary of State’s speech to the Oxford Farming Conference. Accompanied by the publication of the Agricultural Transition Plan Update and three years after the original Plan was issued, this sets out a substantial expansion of SFI and other measures phased in over 2024....

Now three years into the Agricultural Transition and with payments delinked, the speech to the Oxford Farming Conference (see press release) by the new Secretary of State, Steve Barclay, was accompanied by the Agricultural Plan Transition Update, continuing to aim for a 70 per cent take of environmental land management agreements by farmers, while making other announcements is support of farming productivity. This note summarises the speech and is supported by the attached DEFRA papers....

The Basic Payment Scheme has now fully ended in England, taking cross compliance with it. This note sets out the updated guidance from DEFRA.

Updated to V.54.0 on 22nd December 2023 The RPA has prepared a Sustainable Farming Incentive Q&A document, addressing some common questions about both the general nature of the scheme and some action-specific issues. The RPA's intention is to provide a common understanding of the purpose and requirements of aspects of the scheme. This is to be a 'living document'; it will change as new questions and issues arise and so should not be taken as a fixed and definitive guide. It should also be read...