The Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024

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The Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 puts the baseline for hedgerow management practices into law.
What do the new Hedgerow regulations mean for you…
The new regulations require:
• a 2-metre buffer strip, measured from the centre of a hedgerow, where a green cover must be established and maintained
• no cultivation or application of pesticides or fertilisers within the 2-metre buffer strip
• a hedgerow cutting and trimming ban from 1 March to 31 August (inclusive)
The cutting and trimming ban will start immediately. This is to protect nesting birds up to the end of August 2024.
The buffer strip rules will begin:
• from 1 July 2024 for land not currently being used for crop production
• from the first harvest after 1 July 2024 for land which is currently being used for crops.
You can find guidance on these rules and exemptions in the buffer strip guidance and the cutting and trimming guidance on GOV.UK

Allocation of Housing & Other Commercial Development Sites within North Yorkshire

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Deadline for submission of comments – 30 June 2024

North Yorkshire Council (NYC) has begun the process of preparing a new Local Plan for the authority.  This is the key document used to decide planning applications and it allocates land for development or protects it as open countryside.  It is therefore important how your land is allocated.  The document is expected to be Adopted in 2028 and will replace those Local Plans previously produced by North Yorkshire’s District Authorities such as Craven District Council and Harrogate Borough Council.

As part of that process NYC has begun undertaking a ‘Call for Sites’ and is inviting suggestions on land that could be developed for housing or other commercial uses over the coming years.  Putting your land forward does not guarantee that it will be allocated, but it is the best way to maximise the chances of it being allocated in the future.   If NYC is not made aware of your land, or alternatively if NYC is uncertain whether the landowner wishes to see it developed in the future, the land is very unlikely to be included in the new Local Plan.

NYC has stated that suggested sites should be submitted to them by the end of June and we can undertake this process for you.  If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Ian Swain, Gemma Kennedy, or Cathy Dakin on 01756 692900.

 

 

RDPE Scheme Updates

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Farm support is entering what is arguably one of the most complex phases experienced by the industry.  The only thing that is certain is the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme.  In the context of declining BPS income, please click on the link below to see our thoughts on alternative schemes available and the services we can offer.

2024 Newsletter v4

Calf Housing for Health & Welfare Grant

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To build new, upgrade or replace existing calf housing.
( Calves 7 days to 6 months old )
Grant Funding is 40% of the expected project cost.
Grant funding available is between £15,000 & £500,000

 

Project Requirements:
• Calves MUST NOT be kept individually from 7 days old.
• Building must be designed to maintain a suitable ambient environment.
• Calves must NOT share airspace with or be downwind of older cattle.
• Must have minimum available area per calf of 3m2 for calves up to 100kg, 4m2 for calves up to 150kg and 5m2 for calves above 150kg.
• Have a solid concrete floor (sloping 5% in the bedding area)
• Have straw bedding.
• Have permanent draught proof walls a minimum of 1.2m high.
• Must include one enrichment item per pair of calves.
• Include temperature and humidity sensors.

If solar panels are included within the project these can be funded at 25% of eligible costs.
You must have 11 or more cattle registered to your holding.
You must either own the land or have a tenancy of 5years or more on the project land.
The proposed building must be a permanent building, securely attached to a foundation.

The application process will require detailed information on the project including building design, quotes and letters of support from your farm VET.

If you require further information, please contact:
Karen Shuttleworth or Molly Dakin: 01756 692 900

Full details are available on the RPA website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/calf-housing-for-health-and-welfare-2023#:~:text=You%20can%20apply%20for%20a,to%20open%20later%20this%20summer

Join our team – Stewardship Assistant

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Job Description:

Stewardship Assistant

The Opportunity

Our team continues to grow and another fantastic opportunity has arisen to join our small and friendly team based in an ideal location on the edge of Skipton.

The Role

The role will involve a range of general and business specific administrative duties, including but not limited to;

  • Liaising regularly with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on our clients’ behalf.
  • Management of interested parties for RPA schemes, the checking and data inputting of our client’s RPA agreements.
  • Payment checking & management for a vast number of high-value agreements.
  • Keeping our in-house database and filing system up to date.
  • Interest in soil management

The Firm

WBW Surveyors are a team of Chartered Surveyors and Town Planners serving a wide range of clients from the rural, commercial, and residential property sectors.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a friendly, hard-working quick learner who can build strong relationships with both our team and client base. The person must be organised, flexible, proficient in IT skills and comfortable prioritising their own workload.

The Package

This role is intended as a long term appointment.

Salary based on experience

Company pension scheme

Regular social functions

Interesting and varied workload

How to Apply

If you think you may be the right person for this role, please send applications with CV to Molly Dakin at molly.dakin@wbwsurveyors.co.uk by Monday 17th July. To discuss the role in further detail please call Jess Austin or Molly Dakin on 01756 692 900.

We are hiring – Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor

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Job Description:

The Opportunity

Fancy a change of scenery? Want to work in a fantastic location as an integral part of a young and friendly team? Do you have aspirations towards being a Director with an equity shareholding? Well, we may just be the place for you.

The Job

Due to the impending retirement of two experienced part-time Consultants and an ever-growing caseload,  we need a qualified rural practice Chartered Surveyor to service an existing diverse client base, getting involved in the full range of private client professional work.

The Firm

We are a single office practice of Chartered Surveyors and Town Planners focused mainly on the rural sector but with commercial and residential offerings too, based at Skipton Auction Mart in the gateway to the Dales.

The Candidate

For the right person, we are prepared to be flexible. But ideally we seek someone with RICS and CAAV qualifications, an RICS Registered Valuer and someone who thrives on the variety that private client work offers. Attitude is paramount. We have a friendly relaxed working environment with a business model based on building strong relationships with clients and fellow professionals. We therefore need a team player who is self-motivated and is naturally inclined to go the extra mile for clients and colleagues to ensure that we always do a good job.

The Package

This is intended to be a long-term appointment with fast-track prospects of becoming an equity Director for the right candidate.

However, for starters we offer:

  • Attractive Salary (based on experience)
  • Bi-annual Bonus Scheme
  • Company Pension Scheme
  • Regular social functions
  • Interesting and varied caseload

How to Apply

Please send applications with CV to Lisa Bickerton on lisa.bickerton@wbwsurveyors.co.uk. For a strictly confidential initial discussion please call Adam Winthrop on 07885 243390 or John Akrigg on 07912 668403.

Land To Let

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WBW Surveyors are pleased to offer two separate parcels of land to let, see details below.

Land available for cropping off Manchester Road, Padiham 

Grassland available for cropping. A total of approx 20 acres (8 ha). Available to let on a Cropping licence as soon as possible.

All enquiries and offers, please contact Joanna Townley on 01756 692900 or by email joanna.townley@wbwsurveyors.co.uk

Land at Turf Pit Gate, Bracewell

Mowing land totalling circa 116.5 acres (47.14 ha) Available in two lots from the 1st April until 10th September 2023.

Lot one is circa 33.5 acres (13.55 ha)

Lot two is circa 83 acres (33.58 ha)

Offers are invited on either of the lots or as a whole. All enquiries and offers, please contact David Claxton on 01756 692900 or david.claxton@wbwsurveyors.co.uk

Join the team!

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We are hiring! Administrative Assistant

The Opportunity

After our recent recruitment drive in the summer, the team continues to grow and another fantastic opportunity has arisen to join our small and friendly team based in an ideal location on the edge of Skipton.

The Role

The role will involve a range of general and business specific administrative duties, including but not limited to;

  • Liaising regularly with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on our clients’ behalf.
  • Management of interested parties for RPA schemes, the checking and data inputting of our client’s RPA agreements.
  • Controlling our calendar which includes deadline management for several different schemes, sending out reminders, chasing both our clients’ and third-party organisations.
  • Payment checking & management for a vast number of high-value agreements.
  • Keeping our in-house database and filing system up to date.
  • General clerical duties e.g. Mail Merges, filing, office organisation.

The Firm

WBW Surveyors are a team of Chartered Surveyors and Town Planners serving a wide range of clients from the rural, commercial, and residential property sectors.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a friendly, hard-working quick learner who can build stong relationships with both our team and client base. The person must be organised, flexible, profficient in IT skills and comfortable prioritising their own workload.

The Package

This role is intended as a long term appointment.

  • Salary based on experience
  • Company pension scheme
  • Regular social functions
  • Interesting and varied workload

How to Apply

If you think you may be the right person for this role, please send applications with CV to Lisa Bickerton at lisa.bickerton@wbwsurveyors.co.uk by Monday 19th December 2022. To discuss the role in further detail please call Lisa Bickerton or Molly Dakin on 01756 692 900.

We are hiring! Admin Assistant / Residential Lettings Coordinator

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Admin Assistant/Residential Lettings Coordinator

The Opportunity

A great opportunity to become an integral part of a young and friendly team based in a fantastic location on the edge of Skipton.

The Job

A full time role, beginning with administrative duties, the role will develop into the coordination of the residential lettings side of the business.  There will be an opportunity to enrol in further education and training.  The role will initially involve a range of general administrative duties, including but not limited to;

  • Managing incoming calls and enquiries.
  • Welcoming visitors to the office.
  • Uploading items to the website and external advertising sites.
  • Data entry
  • Coordinating Residential Lettings – liaising with contractors, tenants and landlords, carrying out inspections, hosting viewings.

The Firm

WBW Surveyors are a team of Chartered Surveyors and Town Planners serving a wide range of clients from the rural, commercial, and residential property sectors.

The Candidate

We are looking for a team player who can build on the strong relationships with our client base, the right person must be hardworking and diligent and comfortable prioritising their own workload.

The Package

This is intended to be a long-term appointment with opportunities for future training and development.

  • Salary based on experience
  • Company Pension Scheme
  • Regular social functions
  • Interesting and varied workload

How to Apply

Please send applications with CV to Lisa Bickerton on lisa.bickerton@wbwsurveyors.co.uk by Monday 8th August 2022.  To discuss the role in further detail please call Lisa Bickerton or Chloe Winter on 01756 692900.

Advance Payment of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2022

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We have received an update from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) regarding a change they are making to arrangements for this year’s BPS payment, which means you will receive a 50% advance payment from 31st July.

The RPA issued a statement explaining why they have introduced this measure which was as follows;

The price of agricultural commodities has always been closely correlated to energy prices. Manufactured Ammonium Nitrate depends on large quantities of gas and when the gas price spikes, so do fertiliser costs and other input costs such as tractor diesel and electricity. This means that farmers are carrying an increased risk on their profit and loss account, and the RPA recognises that there is an increased pressure on cash flow in the short term.

The RPA have therefore decided to bring forward 50% of this year’s BPS payment as an advance injection of cash to farm businesses from the end of July, to provide you with some confidence. The balance will be paid in the payment window from December.

We understand that the RPA intend to make this a permanent change to the way they pay BPS in future with twice yearly instalments going forward.  We anticipate that the first payment will be based on 50% of the previous year’s claim value, and any adjustments will be made in the balancing payment in December.

You do not need to do anything to access this payment.