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Land Business Update | Week Commencing 18 August 2025
Farming & food Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier – complete the pre-application process to be able to apply Only people who have been invited to apply, received pre-application advice and completed any preparatory work will be able to apply for the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) when it opens for applications in September. Please contact […]
Positive changes to Woodland Carbon Code
A new version of the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) – the quality assurance standard for UK woodland carbon projects – has been published with the early indications looking like the update will be financially and practically beneficial to landowners and land managers alike. Version 3 of the WCC was officially launched on 1 August. However, […]
Counting down to IHT reform: What farms and estates must do now
The window is narrowing for farms and estate businesses to prepare for the forthcoming inheritance tax (IHT) reforms. The recent draft Finance Bill confirmed the planned changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), due to take effect from April 2026. The implications for farming businesses are significant, and while industry bodies […]
In the Know: Managing rights of way and permissive paths
Managing public access can present serious challenges for land managers – from livestock worrying and gates left open, to crops damaged by people straying from footpaths. For some, it also means fly-tipping, motorbike damage or general tension with members of the public who may not understand or respect the working nature of the land. The […]
Land Business Update | Week Commencing 4 August 2025
Farming & food Is your farm turning a truly sustainable profit? (UK) Farming is facing a range of significant challenges, including the ending of Basic Payments, changes to inheritance tax and climate change. These pressures are sparking urgent conversations – both in the industry and in Government – about what needs to change to support […]
Is your farm turning a truly sustainable profit?
Farming is facing a perfect storm of challenges – from the end of Basic Payments to growing environmental pressures and increasingly extreme weather. These pressures are sparking urgent conversations – both in the industry and in Government – about what needs to change to support farm profitability. Former NFU President Baroness Minette Batters is currently […]
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier – information and advice
Defra has announced that the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (HT) scheme will open for applications in September 2025, to those who have been invited to apply. It has been a long wait for this moment – the application window was last open in autumn 2023. But it is a welcome move given the current […]
New report highlights value of off-site Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a landmark market-led policy that’s helping to restore nature while unlocking sustainable development. But as the Government considers changes to the policy, new research has identified opportunities for how it could be strengthened to deliver even greater benefits for nature, developers and communities. The report, The Comparative Value of On-site vs […]
Land Business Update | Week Commencing 21 July 2025
Farming & food Capital Grants scheme already 50% allocated so act quickly (England) Defra has said that just over half of available funds have been allocated to around 5,000 applications. The round will close to applications when the available funding (£150m) has been committed, so act quickly if you might want to apply. Funding is […]
Environmental Business Update | July 2025
Strutt & Parker’s Rural team brings you a roundup of the latest environmental and renewables news and views. Environmental insights from our team Long-term nature agreements – what landowners need to consider (England) As interest grows in Landscape Recovery and similar long-term environmental schemes, land managers are weighing up the opportunities – and the long-term […]
Five things you can do to make your farm safer
Farming is demanding – physically, mentally, and logistically. But taking just a few moments to think ahead can help prevent serious accidents and keep your team safe. Ahead of Farm Safety Week (21-25 July 2025), here are five practical things you can start doing today: 1. Pause for thought. Before taking action, particularly if it […]
Capital Grants scheme reopens in England
Defra has announced the reopening of its Capital Grants scheme, which provides funding to cover part or all the cost of activities or equipment which will help the environment and support habitat restoration. The scheme had been closed for new applications since November 2024. There are 78 items available through the Capital Grant offer, which […]
Land Business Update | Week Commencing 7 July 2025
Farming & food Confirmation of English Basic Payments for 2026/27 (England) Basic Payments for 2026/27 will be capped at a maximum of £600 per business, a reduction from this year’s cap of £7,200 per business. The payments will continue to be based on the size of a farm, so a 1,000 acre farm which would […]
New capital grant scheme to open in Scotland
The Scottish Government has announced details of a £14m Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) which opens for applications on 14 July. The FFIS offers grants of up to 100% of the capital costs of eligible investments which are ones that either improve business efficiency and sustainability; protect and enhance the environment; reduce greenhouse gas emissions […]
Water availability – the challenges and solutions facing farmers
Water availability is rapidly becoming one of the most critical challenges facing UK farmers and landowners. Climate change is already presenting major difficulties for the agricultural industry. The winter of 2023/24 was among the wettest on record, making crop establishment impossible for many. In stark contrast, spring 2025 was the driest for 50 years and […]
EPC methodology changing from 15 June – good news or bad?
The Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) system for domestic buildings is being overhauled from 16 June 2025, with the aim of producing more accurate and detailed assessments. EPCs for existing houses are calculated using the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP) – a simplified version of the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) used for new builds. This […]
Land Business Update | Week Commencing 9 June 2025
Farming & food Effect on Defra budget less than feared from Spending Review (England) Reaction to the allocation for farming as been largely positive – it was less bad than was feared and there is feeling that the department did a good job to secure its funding. Support for sustainable farming and nature recovery will […]
Long-term nature deals: What land managers need to consider
As interest grows in Landscape Recovery and similar long-term environmental schemes, land managers are weighing up the opportunities – and the long-term implications. Landscape Recovery is the most ambitious tier of Defra’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes and involves individuals and groups collaborating to deliver a range of environmental benefits at scale. It is a […]
Land Business Update | Week Commencing 26 May 2025
Farming & food Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates increased for many options (England) Rates will increase by around 34% for each option, bringing them more in line with rates paid by the Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes but still below them for many options. The rates had not been increased for […]
In the Know: Understanding the proposed domestic EPC and MEES reforms
The Government is proposing stricter Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the private-rented sector, along with significant reforms to the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) regime. This means landlords are facing a number of potential changes which will require careful planning in terms of what to invest in energy efficiency improvements and when. The proposals may […]
