What's New - The Central Association for Agricultural Valuers

Jan 22 2024

Energy DCOs - Sizewell C and Drax

News

Two major energy projects have reached milestones in their consenting. Sizewell C has announced that it has satisfied the commitments made in its Deed of Obligation. These were preliminary tasks required under the Development Consent Order (DCO) and preconditions for the start of the formal construction phase. The start of construction is not conditional on the final investment decision (FID) which is expected to be taken later in 2024. The Drax Bioenergy carbon capture and storage project was...

Jan 19 2024

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240119: HS2 Safeguarding Lifted for Phase 2a

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.

Jeremy's Blog 19th January 2024: Private Capital for Environmental Work

News

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 18th January 2024 The encouragement of private capital with and alongside public money has been a recurrent theme in government statements on environmental policy. DEFRA has set out very round figures as targets for this, calling for £500 million of private investment in “nature recovery” by 2027 and £1 billion by 2030 (perhaps 40 per cent of England’s legacy CAP money but not all necessarily agricultural or even...

BNG Start Dates: 12th February 2024

News

DEFRA has confirmed the start dates for biodiversity net gain in England:From 12 February 2024, BNG will be mandatory for new planning applications for major development made under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1990, subject to the confirmed exemptions.BNG for small sites will have an extended transition period and will apply from 2 April 2024....

Jan 18 2024

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CAAV Model Grazing and Mowing Licence for England 2024 and Guidance

Documents

Please find attached an updated version of the CAAV Model Grazing and Mowing Licence for England 2024 and accompanying guidance notes.

Jan 16 2024

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SI No 30 Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2024

Documents

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

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CAAV Note 240116: Units of Production Figures for England and Wales

Documents

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.

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SI No 10 (W.4) Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (Wales) Order 2024

Documents

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

DEFRA Webinars: The Farming Offer in 2024

News

Following the start-of-the-year announcement by the DEFRA Secretary on schemes and coming farming policy, DEFRA is hosting several webinars to brief advisers and farmers. The Farming and Countryside Programme (FCP) will be holding an adviser specific webinar on Monday 22nd January: Advisor Webinar - the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI24) Tickets, Mon 22 Jan 2024 at 15:00 | Eventbrite. DEFRA are hosting a webinar on 26th January. Janet Hughes and others from the RPA will be providing an...

Jan 13 2024

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CAAV Note 240113: England - Street Votes for Planning Permission Consultation

Documents

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.

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CAAV Note 240113: Material Information for Property Marketing - New Guidance

Documents

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.

Jan 12 2024

Round Two of Slurry Infrastructure Grant closes 17th January 2024

News

Round 2 of the Slurry Infrastructure grant will close for applications on Wednesday 17th January. In addition to the scheme guidance, DEFRA has posted a blog item providing a recap of the grant and the information needed to get started.

Jeremy's Blog 12th January 2024: The Outlook for Interest Rates

News

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 11th January 2024 Recent weeks have seen a mood that interest rates may be on the way down. However, UK 10 year gilts are nudging back up to 4 per cent and there seems reason for rates to remain higher for longer and also be more volatile. The strange period was the 15 years of unprecedented ultra-low interest rates from 2008 to 2023, not the last few months in which we have returned to a world of significant interest rates....

Jan 11 2024

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CAAV Note 240111: Consultation on Greater Transparency

Documents

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.

CAFRE Soil Nutrient Health Scheme Training

News

DAERA has announced that the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is providing free, face-to-face Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) training sessions for farmers in the County Down area.

Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) 2024 Now Open

News

Scottish Government has made an announcement on the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) 2024, the application window is now open, and will close on Tuesday 31st December 2024.

Updated Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Payment Rates

News

Defra has reviewed and updated Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) payment rates based on current costs. Where the 2024 rate has increased, the higher payment rate will be paid for: existing SFI Pilot and 2023 agreements, backdated to the start of their current agreement year.new applications received in 2024 SFI 22 payment rates are not changing as the scheme is closing....

Jan 10 2024

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Scotland: Consultation on Management of Deer for Climate and Nature

News

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...

Flooding – DEFRA Statement

News

Robbie Moore, Floods Minister, has made a statement in the Commons on the renewed flooding in England following Storm Henk, noting that: “Parts of the country had a month’s worth of rain in the first four days of January, and that rain fell on already saturated ground. Several of our biggest river systems—the Trent, Thames, Severn and Avon—saw record levels, or close to record levels …” He stressed the protection given by recent flood defence works and the 2022 planning guidance...

Jan 8 2024

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CAAV Note 240108: England - Flood Recovery Framework

Documents

The Government has announced financial support for farmers, businesses and households in those areas of England that have experienced exceptional localised flooding form Storm Henk (2nd to 8th January). This note sets out the support available.