Welcome to Strutt & Parker Rural Hub

The Rural Hub is the place to find information, advice and the latest research on all aspects of land, estate and farm management.

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Specialisms

As you consider your future strategy, having access to the right expertise and information is crucial. Our teams cover every service and discipline within the rural sector; grounded in excellent farming and land management fundamentals, we are underpinned by the wider financial and property expertise of the BNP Paribas Group.

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Managing Estates & Land

Strutt & Parker’s national land management team provides strategic business advice and practical management services to clients including private estates,...

Farming

Our experienced and knowledgeable farming team can help make you become more profitable and efficient by offering practical and realistic...

Estates & Farms Agency

Strutt & Parker have been at the forefront of the estates and farms market for over 130 years. We have...

Forestry & Woodland

John Clegg & Co is the specialist forestry & woodland division of Strutt & Parker. Our specialist forestry and woodland...

Environmental

Strutt & Parker’s environmental land management advice is delivered with an eye firmly on the bigger picture and with a...

Energy

Rural Ambitions

Managing Rural Housing

Our services are tailored to each client and range from advising on the regulations affecting residential tenancies, through to a...

Viticulture

Strutt & Parker’s viticulture group are the market leaders in identifying and securing land suitable for vines through purchases or...

Rural Connectivity

Strutt & Parker's unrivalled telecoms group acts for landowners only and never for telecommunications operators. With dedicated local specialists, we...

Client Accounting & Taxation

Our land & property accounting and bookkeeping department works closely with our taxation team, who uniquely combine rural and agricultural...

Estates Development & Planning

The Planning Team work alongside landowners, institutional clients and the development industry to unlock the planning potential of land and...

Future Trends

Keeping abreast of trends in markets and demographics is key to running successful rural businesses. Whether it is looking for...

Research

Our in-house rural research team reviews the latest information and trends and produces briefing papers for clients and for our...

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Latest Articles

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Land Business Update | Week Commencing 7 April 2025

Rural economy & property Renters’ Rights Bill – time to prepare (England) The Renters’ Rights Bill aims to ensure a fair balance between strengthening the rights of tenants and preserving landlords’ ability to manage their properties effectively. The proposed legislation has yet to complete its passage through Parliament, but we are not anticipating any significant […]

Research
Land Business Update

10.04.2025

10 mins

In the know: Renters’ Rights Bill – key questions answered

The Renters’ Rights Bill aims to ensure a fair balance between strengthening the rights of tenants and preserving landlords’ ability to manage their properties effectively. The proposed legislation has yet to complete its passage through Parliament, but we are not anticipating any significant changes to the wording, and it is expected to become law within […]

Managing Estates & Land
Government Policy

09.04.2025

5 mins

Take 5…Farms, estates and famous fishing beats for sale

Spring is here which means the farm and estate market is starting to pick up pace. There is an amazing diversity in the properties currently coming to the market. We bring you a round-up of five of our recent launches: Michaelchurch Estate, Herefordshire The Michaelchurch Estate is one of the most significant rural holdings to […]

Estates & Farms Agency
Estate & Land Management

02.04.2025

3 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 24 March 2025

Rural economy & property Spring statement – watch the June spending review for changes to Defra’s budget There were, as far as we can see, no new or unexpected changes that affect farming or rural businesses. There were some (anticipated) changes to welfare and defence spending but not many tax changes. The main event for […]

Research
Land Business Update

31.03.2025

6 mins

Environmental Business Update | March 2025

Policy & legislation Land use consultation – starting a national conversation The Government has issued a 12-week consultation on a Land Use Framework for England which seeks to establish the principles, data and tools which can be used to improve decision-making about the competing pressures for land. It estimates that the total land use […]

Research
Land Business Update
Environmental

27.03.2025

14 mins

SFI update – what we know and where next for farmers?

Defra has shocked the rural sector with its decision to close the window for applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), but what does this mean for farmers moving forward? The following is a summary of the key details of the announcement along with some thoughts on its far-reaching implications: Defra closed the window for […]

Farming
Environmental schemes

24.03.2025

6 mins

Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) reports explained

Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) is the system used for grading the quality of agricultural land in England and Wales, with its primary function being to inform decision making about the appropriate sustainable development of land. The planning system is broadly designed to protect the ‘best and most versatile’ (BMV) agricultural land from significant, inappropriate or […]

Farming
Estates Development & Planning
Estate & Land Management

19.03.2025

2 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 10 March 2025

Farming & food Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme closed with no notice and now being ‘reset’ The government caused a lot of anger and consternation when it closed the scheme on Tuesday 11 March. It said that more farmers had applied than in previous years and so the budget limit had been reached. There are […]

Research
Land Business Update

14.03.2025

7 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 24 February 2025

Rural economy & property Update on grants and rural policy in England The Secretary of State Steve Reed and his team made a number of positive announcements at the NFU Conference. Here are the ones we think are most important: ELM capital grants – all 4,000 applications that were held up will be processed and […]

Research
Land Business Update

27.02.2025

9 mins

In the Know: Hedgerow management rules – an update

Hedgerows play an important role in the countryside. Traditionally they were used to mark boundaries and contain livestock, but now their wider role is much more recognised. They reduce flooding. They control soil erosion and protecting fields from wind. They act as a barrier to fertilisers and pesticides entering water. And, of course, they are […]

Farming
Managing Estates & Land
Policies and regulations

27.02.2025

5 mins

In the Know: The Land Use Framework explained

In the Know: The Land Use Framework explained The Government has issued a 12-week consultation on a Land Use Framework for England which seeks to establish the principles, data and tools which can be used to improve decision-making about the competing pressures for land. It is hoped that the framework will help landowners, farmers, local […]

Farming
Environmental

19.02.2025

8 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 10 February 2025

Farming & food EU’s draft ‘Vision for Agriculture & Food’ provides roadmap for farm policy It is always interesting to see what other countries are doing and a leaked draft of the EU’s policy, which is still subject to change before it is officially published and then negotiated, has a number of main themes: Direct […]

Research
Land Business Update

17.02.2025

6 mins

In the Know: Top tips on staying compliant with SFI rules

Defra announced on 11 March 2025 that it would no longer be accepting new applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme. However, existing agreements will continue and the following rules still apply to those. Details of a revised SFI are expected in the summer. Tens of thousands of farmers in England have now signed […]

Farming
Environmental schemes

10.02.2025

7 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 27 January 2025

Farming & food Farm Rents in England in 2023/24 The average rent for a Farm Business Tenancy (FBT), across all farm types, rose by 3% in the year to 28 February 2024, according to the latest data from Defra. The data comes from the Farm Business Survey sample of 1,373 farms but the sample for […]

Research
Land Business Update

30.01.2025

7 mins

What is coming down the line in terms of farming policy in 2025?

It feels like 2025 will be a big year for farming, food and land use policy. The Government has promised to consult on and publish at least three new plans and strategies – the farming roadmap, the food strategy and the land use framework. Plus, there is likely to be much more debate about the […]

Farming
Policies and regulations

21.01.2025

5 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 13 January 2025

Farming & food Secretary of State Steve Reed’s speech at the Oxford Farming Conference (England) Although some commentators have criticised the speech as not containing detail on what the government will spend on the sector, it feels like there was a lot in it and it was carefully structured. Some subjects he has spoken about […]

Research
Land Business Update

16.01.2025

6 mins

Outlook for 2025 – 6 key themes facing land managers

Taking a proactive approach to the challenges facing the land-based sector – from changes to the tax regime through to the growing impact of climate change – may help businesses to navigate the uncertainty and put them in a stronger position as we move through 2025. Rhodri Thomas, Strutt & Parker’s Head of Rural, says: […]

Managing Estates & Land
Farming
Management

09.01.2025

6 mins

Environmental sustainability – how we are playing our part

Environmental sustainability is as important to Strutt & Parker and the wider BNP Paribas Group as it is to many of our clients. We explore some of the projects and initiatives which we are implementing to address climate change and improve our resilience Solar energy decarbonising BNP Paribas’ UK operations A 120-acre solar farm in […]

Environmental
ESG

16.12.2024

4 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 9 December 2024

Environment & natural capital Scottish Government publishes Natural Capital Markets Framework The aim of the Framework is to create the conditions needed to encourage flows of private capital into Scotland’s natural environment. It is based on six principles that investments should adhere to, many of which echo the Government’s principles on land reform and use. […]

Research
Land Business Update

12.12.2024

8 mins

How to avoid common pitfalls when planting new woodland

When it comes to woodland creation, there’s a question you should ask yourself long before you get to the detail of designing a woodland and that is: What is its purpose? All too often, when it comes to lowland broadleaf woodlands, people can approach the process the wrong way around, focusing on the size and […]

Forestry & Woodland
Woodland planting and management

10.12.2024

3 mins

24 April 2025

The Forest Market Review 2024

GB forestry market steadies after two-year dip The commercial forestry market in Great Britain appears to be stabilising, with high-quality plantations maintaining strong values and cautious optimism within the sector, according to forestry and woodland specialists John Clegg & Co. Its annual Forest Market Review shows that while there was a further softening of average […]