GSC Grays Magazine - November 2020

GSC GRAYS Working together today to secure your tomorrow

A C HA NG IN G LA ND S CA P E Results revealed from our sur vey of farm businesses in the region

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES

PUTTING ELM TO THE TEST

The impact of a poor year for arable

Shaping the design of the new

farmers will be felt across the wider

Environmental Land Management

farming community

Scheme on Barningham Estate

ISSUE NO. 1

NOVEMBER 2020

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GSC GRAYS

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23

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CONTENTS 04

WH A T A D IF F E RE NC E A YEA R MA KES Greg Ricketts, Rural Director and Brian Richardson, Head of Agriculture at Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank, give their thoughts on how taking care of the numbers will ensure farm businesses are in the best position possible to take on future challenges.

09

10

James Severn, Rural Director gives his thoughts on the benefits for all sides.

12

A CH A N G IN G LA N D S CA P E: T H E RES U LT S O F OU R RU RA L SU RVE Y

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18

PU TTIN G ELM TO TH E TEST

20

EXPECTIN G THE U N EXPECTED John Coleman, Director and Head of Farms & Countr y Houses looks at how farmland and rural proper ty markets have performed in 2020.

F A RMING THE S UN COUL D BE A N OP TION

CONTRA CT F A RMIN G A GRE E ME NTS THE K EY TO UN LOCKIN G OP P ORTUNITIE S

ISSUE NO. 1

NOVEMBER 2020

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THE FU TU RE CO U LD B E TAXIN G

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THE WHO LE B U ILD IN G APPRO ACH

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PLAN N IN G FO R THE FU TU RE

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WELCOME TO TH E TEAM

TA K ING A DVA NTA GE OF W OODL A ND P L A NTING S CHE ME S

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

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WELCOME “ The best way to p red ict the future is to create it” Abraham Lincoln

GUY COGGRAVE MANAGING DIRECTOR

01748 897606 gsc@gscgrays.co.uk

There could be many reasons that 2020 might stick in our memories, a year of exceptional weather and empty supermarket shelves, of school closures, working from home and government-funded mid-week meals. For many in our rural communities, I think it will be remembered as a year dominated by uncertainty.

We star ted the year with ver y limited information about the future of farm suppor t in England, and as we enter Autumn we have little more to go on.

COVID-19 has caused delays and disruption in ever y par t of our society and unfor tunately that seems to include the government and the civil ser vice – as our magazine goes to press we are still waiting for the long anticipated autumn announcement on the design of the Environmental Land Management scheme (ELM). The Government’s negotiations with the EU are also behind schedule.

When we are faced with a great deal of uncer tainty, it is easy to assume that there is little we can do to prepare for the future because we cannot predict exactly what it will bring. Unfor tunately, we know enough about the future of agricultural policy in this countr y to know that for many farmers and land managers ‘business as usual’ will soon not be a viable proposition. In our recent sur vey of farm businesses, 49% of respondents repor ted that their business would not be profitable without BPS. That is a bleak prospect for the industr y. How then can we create a different future?

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There is no easy answer to that question, but I firmly

of efficiency, or reliance on subsidy? A full and frank review

believe that by taking a proactive approach today you

of your business as it is today will help you to make sure

will improve your business’s chances of sur vival and of

you get to where you want to be tomorrow.

success. Farmers and land managers are used to managing a business that relies on factors that are unpredictable and beyond their control – weather, global markets, and the vagaries of the RPA to name a few. They know that in the face of uncer tainty you must focus on controlling what you can and building a business that is resilient and adaptable.

Though policy changes may be more far-reaching and longer-lasting than a bad winter, the principles are the same: use this time of transition to take stock, and prepare your businesses for the difficult period ahead. Now is the time to ensure that you have a clear understanding of how the for thcoming reductions in BPS payments will affect your business, and consider how you might need to mitigate

In July of this year, we carried out our own informationgathering exercise, when we asked many of you to spare the time to contribute to our rural sur vey. I would like to thank all of you that took par t, and I urge you to take the time to review the findings of that sur vey on page 12 of this magazine, I am sure you will find them as interesting as we did.

We will be using the results of the sur vey to shape the ser vices and advice that we offer in the future, beginning with a programme of vir tual events and guides over the winter months to help you navigate the changing landscape we are all now working in.

those reductions over the coming years. What are your goals for the next 5 years? What assets or skills do you have that could be exploited to generate new income streams from diversification or development? Do you know how your business compares to others in your sector in terms

I F I R M LY B E L I E V E T H AT B Y TA K I N G A P RO A C T I V E A P P R O A C H T O D AY, Y O U W I L L I M P ROV E YO U R BUSINESS’S CHANCES OF S U RV I VA L A N D S U C C E S S .

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

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WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES Greg Ricketts, Rural Director and Brian Richardson, Head of Agriculture at Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank, give their thoughts on how taking care of the numbers will ensure farm businesses are in the best position possible to take on future challenges.

What a difference a year makes in farming. 2019 harvest was probably one of the best production years for arable farming, with winter wheat yields in the region of 10 tonnes per hectare (4 tonnes per acre) on many farms.

Contrast that with 2020 where yields of winter wheat have been as low as 5-6 tonnes per hectare (2-2.4 tonnes per acre), especially where land lay wet during the autumn/winter period.

It is fair to say that cer tain areas, such as the Yorkshire Wolds and Nor th Nor thumberland, have not suffered as much as the rest of Nor th Yorkshire or fur ther nor th in County Durham and South Nor thumberland.

In addition to reduced yields there was a significant swing from winter cropping to spring cropping where crops either failed in the autumn of 2019 or were never sown in the first instance. Straw yields are also low, almost without exception across all winter crops.

Reduced yields and the change from winter to spring cropping are not the only factors which will affect the financial performance of arable farming businesses.

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Dr ying costs, labour, power, and seed costs have increased

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

RESULTS

ACTUAL T/HA

PROV T/HA

BUDGET T/HA

have been surprisingly good, which will help slightly.

WINTER WHEAT

9.48

7.28

9.25

On a positive note, crop prices for 2020 have risen on

WINTER BARLEY

8.77

6.95

8.40

WINTER OILSEED RAPE

3.72

3.11

3.75

SPRING BARLEY

N/A

5.93

N/A

SUPPORT (BPS)

£57,133

£57,411

£53,073

PROFIT

£64,934

£6,940

£62,425

£4,660

(£13,400)

(£29,840)

on many farms in the last 12 months. Many producers have seed on stock for the autumn of 2020 carried over from 2019. Germination rates on this over-year seed

the back of reduced production and a weakening pound.

Whilst this will help financial returns to a degree, many producers will have sold a significant propor tion of crops at forward prices, taken perhaps as long ago as last autumn/ early winter, and therefore will not see the full benefit of the increasing prices.

The impact of rising cereal prices and feeds generally on the world market, in conjunction with a shor tage of straw and therefore rising bedding costs, will also have a significant impact on livestock farmers, in par ticular with regard to intensive producers of pigs, poultr y and milk.

Feed costs have probably risen by slightly in excess of £20 per tonne for dair y farmers, and a typical 200 cow herd could be feeding 500 tonnes of concentrates. This will lead to an increase in the cost of production for feed alone of in excess of £10k.

This, combined with general increases in costs for all farmers due to inflation, means the impact of the poor results for arable farmers will be felt by the wider farming community.

We are in the process of developing a number of model farms to illustrate the changing trends in financial performance to monitor and track profitability and cashflow.

Our model arable farm is up and running and is based on a typical family farming unit of approximately 250 ha (620 ac) where two-thirds of the land is owner-occupied and the balance, just under 90 ha, is rented. Whilst the model is clearly a fictitious example, we believe it is reflective of financial performance across arable units in Yorkshire, County Durham and Nor thumberland.

With regard to the comparison of financial information between 2019 and 2021 we detail the key findings from our model in the adjacent table.

CASH SURPLUS/ (DEFICIT)

Profitability does not necessarily equal cash in the bank. As many will appreciate, profit is the return to a proprietor for running a business; essentially income less costs. However, it does not include all expenses, for example private drawings, tax and loan repayments. In addition, the cash flow of a business takes account of changes in valuation, debtors and creditors.

After accounting for private drawings, tax provision from the previous year, bank loan repayments and valuation, debtor and creditor changes, our model farm will show a cash deficit for both 2019/20 and 2020/21.

Clearly, the reduction in profitability of £58k between 2018/19 and 2019/20 is substantial and this will result in additional finance requirements for the business on overdraft going forward. Within our farming model, the cash deficit for 2019/20 masks the impact of the reduced performance, on the basis that the actual sales in that financial year (from October 2019 to September 2020) include 65% crop sales from the 2019 har vest and 50% (due to reduced output) of sales from 2020.

AS AN IMMEDIATE SHORTTERM STRATEGY, WE ARE PLANNING THE FOLLOWING STEPS: 1.

To discuss with our Bank Manager our finance requirements at an early stage with an expectation

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

5

of an increased finance requirement of £40-50k on overdraft next year (July/August 2021).

2.

4.

•

Diversification

into

enterprises

outside

agriculture on farm utilising buildings which are not

over the next 12/24 months to minimise cost in

required for agricultural production.

•

We are also planning to identify whether there are

A review of all costs to identify where savings can

oppor tunities to enter into a CSS Agreement in

be made, however small these may be.

2021 to star t on 1st Januar y 2022 and to understand

We have identified one or two items of machiner y

the financial implications on the farm. There are

(‘metal in the nettle’) which can be sold to raise cash, as these pieces of equipment are now not required for the farming operation.

Clearly 2019/20 has been a difficult year, however our model farm has a long-term future as it is a well-run business with a sound capital position. Whilst there is some debt (approximately £500k) it is not out of balance with the asset values and the ability to ser vice debt at present.

Longer term, we are concerned about the high dependency on suppor t payments to achieve profitable trading within the arable model. This is perhaps the ‘elephant in the room’ at present for many farming businesses, par ticularly arable, beef and sheep farms.

approximately 15 hectares of land on farm which are ver y low-performing, laying wet and heavy, and these might be ideally suited to stewardship oppor tunities.

Whilst we remain ver y positive about the prospects for our model arable farm, we also recognise that we need to embrace change and look at all oppor tunities to strengthen margins, increase income and reduce dependency on suppor t payments for the future.

Footnote-We look forward to developing our other model farms and sharing the performance and results plus budget projections with you in future ar ticles in the GSC Grays magazine. In the next issue we will focus on the livestock examples. If you have any queries or questions arising from

From the previous table we can see that suppor t payments

this ar ticle please contact the Farm Business Depar tment

are £57k in 2018/19, representing approximately 90% of

at your local GSC Grays office.

the total profit achieved in a good trading year. We have taken account of proposed changes to the Basic Payment Scheme with cuts expected to be introduced from 2021,

GREG RICKETTS

which indicate that suppor t will fall from approximately

RURAL DIRECTOR

£57k to £53k next year.

With this level of suppor t set to decline in the period to 2027, a radical review of the business is required over the next 6-12 months to identify oppor tunities to reduce cost or increase income, or both.

Over the course of the winter period we expect to review options to identify whether other changes can be made.

Considerations include:

•

A switch to no-till/direct drilling

•

Entering into a joint venture with a neighbouring farmer to share machiner y and equipment and resources to reduce cost.

•

Development of alternative farm enterprises to replace income expected to be lost as the BPS

6

of

An immediate review of investment requirements this respect.

3.

declines over the period to 2027.

GSC GRAYS

01748 897628 gpr@gscgrays.co.uk

BANKING ON THE FUTURE OF YOUR FARM

are on top of and understand their numbers. We ver y

While we wait for detailed policy to emerge, now is not too early to start planning for the future and remodelling what your agricultural business will need to do to succeed in a new context.

there to help when the gaps need filling.

After what has been a difficult arable year, with the additional challenges around COVID-19, this is a critical

much like to see ourselves as par t of a farm’s suppor t network: able to assist during the good times while also

COVID-19 has been a huge test for the wider farming industr y, not just in keeping ever yone safe but also in getting produce into the food chain and keeping the supermarket shelves filled. After an initial challenging period during lockdown, the food supply chain then settled down. However, the experience has helped highlight the impor tant job farmers do in feeding the nation, and refocused the debate on food security.

time to refine both long and shor t-term farm business

As we look forward, we need to star t thinking about the

plans. With sectoral upheavals and so much change on the

new agricultural regime that will include a phasing out of

way, prospects look differently now than 18 months ago.

universal suppor t to be replaced by more directed ‘public

As is often the case, we have seen a great variety in har vest results across the UK, and in some places, such as Nor thern Scotland, the farming year has probably been more positive than many had imagined at the turn of the year. Those who were not able to sow crops last autumn due to flooding have been worst affected, which we know

goods’ payments. Michael Gove describes the changes in policy around Brexit and the Environmental Agenda as requiring nothing shor t of a revolution in farming, and many would not disagree. And, while we do not have all the answers on policy, we do know the direction of travel and timing.

will result in some gaps in normal cashflow during the next

From 2021 onwards, BPS payments will star t to reduce and

12 months. This means it is impor tant that these variances

not ever y farm will directly replace these payments with

are understood and, where required, some discussion with

ELM or other potential new schemes. This will undoubtedly

your Bank takes place to ensure that any financing facility

mean a redistribution of suppor t payments and a need

matches that need.

to take cost out of the sector, not just for farmers but

It is always beneficial for farmers to be proactive in these discussions with their Bank Manager. It is a lot easier for us to react quickly and positively to those businesses which

also the supply industr y that ser ves it. Work completed by AHDB indicated there are productivity gains to be made, and that there is also a big gap in the UK between the best and worst-performing units, indicating improvements are possible for many.

Greg Ricketts’s ar ticle sets out a number of options that can be considered and it is impor tant all farmers sit down and look at how their business will operate in the future.

For example:

•

How can you make it sustainable and resilient?

•

Where do you see the balance on your farm between producing crops and food versus environmental schemes focusing on public goods?

•

What processes on your farm can you change that will suppor t the longer-term goals of sustainable

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

7

It i s a lot e as ier for u s t o reac t qu ic kly an d po s it iv ely t o thos e b u s ine s s e s wh ic h are o n t op of an d u nd er s t and t h e ir nu m b er s

• •

production with a focus on productivity and

As the more nuanced debate around food security and

reducing cost?

standards develops, post-COVID-19, food production will

Are there oppor tunities to use new technology on

continue to be a key focus for the industr y. I think in the

your farm to meet your future goals?

future, we will be producing as much food, albeit from fewer

Have you carried out a carbon audit to understand

acres and potentially fewer farmers, with others focusing

how your farm measures up on CO2 emissions, and identified some quick wins towards the industr y’s goal of net zero 2040?

There is no doubt that this, the biggest change in agriculture for 50 years, requires some planning. That is why it will be so impor tant that farm businesses sit down with their advisors to look at all aspects of their enterprise, and be

on the environmental aspects of land management.

Through its network of experienced and specialist Agricultural Managers who understand the farming industr y and the imminent changes that will affect it, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank will suppor t customers in making the necessar y changes.

prepared to consider the varied options available to them to make sure it is future proof and successful against this new background. Making changes takes time so the sooner

UK HEAD OF AGRICULTURE

we star t, the better. I see a positive future for farming, but

07483 349432 brian.richardson@cybg.com

it will be different!

8

BRIAN RICHARDSON

GSC GRAYS

CLYDESDALE & YORKSHIRE BANK

FARMING THE SUN COULD BE AN OPTION With farming revenues coming under perpetual strain, diversification of income has been a key theme of farming advice for years.

Renewable energy projects have become a mainstay for landowners considering diversifying their income, but

In one case planning consent is in place for an Anaerobic

some technologies such as solar farming have been seen

Digestion plant beside the solar farm which will need a

as an exclusively non-agricultural development, losing the

stock of grass and crops to keep it fed. Normally this would

farmland and restricting the rest of the business, but this

require productive farmland being used to grow energy

is rarely the case. Instead of being an ultimatum, farming

crops, instead the grass beneath the solar farm can be fed

the land or har vesting sunlight, solar farms should instead

to the plant, generating two types of renewable energy

be seen as an oppor tunity to expand the existing farm

from the same parcel of land.

business.

When the lease expires in 30 years, the panels will be

In most cases a solar farm will be built by a private investor

removed and the land can be returned to being actively

who will be responsible for the land for the duration of

farmed. If managed correctly during the lease period, it is

the lease. The grass beneath the panels needs maintaining

likely that soil health and biodiversity will have improved,

to prevent the spread of weeds and ensure engineers

due to the land cover being continually grass and no soil

can always gain easy access. To do this, developers would

disturbance.

sometimes have to employ the farmer or contractors to cut the grass and spray weeds which, over 200 acres can be a costly exercise.

Industries

and

technology

are

forever

evolving, so

while solar farms may be the ‘hot topic’ of today, other technologies will invariably come back into favour in years

The ideal option for both the landowner and the developer

to come. Not all businesses can wait to see what future

is for the site to be grazed by sheep as they are small

technologies may bring, just as the Chinese proverb goes,

enough to move beneath the panels safely and cost nothing

the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, there is no

to the developer. Not only will the landowner be claiming

better time to look at an energy scheme than today.

the rent over the site, but they could also have access to 200 acres of grazing land for free.

GSC Grays are actively involved in developing solar farms throughout the countr y, with a number of projects expected to star t construction before the end of 2020.

CHRIS THYER

RURAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

07917 611531 ct@gscgrays.co.uk

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

9

CONTRACT FARMING AGREEMENT S THE K E Y TO UNLOC K ING OPPORTUNITIES

James Severn, Rural Director gives his thoughts on the benefits for all sides.

Contract Farming has been an extremely valuable part of our farm business management, nationally, for many years. Over the next 5 to 10 years, as our industry comes to terms with and adjusts to a farming economy with far less direct financial support, we believe Farming Contracts will offer huge opportunities to both The Farmer (land provider) and potential Contractors alike, in both the arable and livestock sectors, but to succeed they have to be well planned, structured and then well managed.

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In the re-organisation that we, at GSC Grays, feel is

and machiner y, but also the roles and ser vices they deliver

bound to come, some Farmers may look for an alternative

to the agreement.

management structure for the farm, or, depending on their stage of career and whether there is succession or not, they may wish to retire completely. A carefully established Contract Farming Agreement would give them this oppor tunity, whilst at the same time allow them to stay living “ at home “ if they wish, remain the proprietor of a farming business and, crucially preser ve Working Farmer Status for tax purposes.

The Contractors central role is to deliver “Contract Ser vices” to the farmer. To do this staff and machiner y are deployed, either to manage livestock or to grow and har vest crops. From time to time accidents happen and mistakes are made, examples include crop loss due to inadver tent spray damage or an action on the farm which puts in jeopardy some or all of the Basic Payment. Sadly, there are sometimes cases where the par ties thought they

The Contractor to an agreement would benefit from a new

were adequately covered and as it turned out they were

farming oppor tunity allowing their business to grow, offer

not. The financial stakes can be high.

economies of scale and increased profit whilst at the same time, present new challenges for the next generation.

The good news is quality insurers and brokers now offer specialist cover that is ideal in a Contract Farming

The key to unlocking these oppor tunities is ver y careful

situation. From the Contractor’s point of view, it must

establishment, followed by sound ongoing management and

cover negligent seed drilling, proper ty damage or yield loss

good communication. The establishment of an agreement

arising from spray damage, the potential loss of suppor t

begins with careful appraisal of the Farmer’s objectives and

payments and of course third-par ty injur y. The star ting

a thorough selection process to find the right Contractor.

point is identifying, together, the key risks you are both

Once appointed and the agreement has been documented

looking to protect.

and signed, ongoing management begins.

In summar y, benefits from establishing a Contract Farming

Like all good businesses, a well run Contract plans ahead

Agreement are often ver y significant, but it is so impor tant,

with a detailed budget, which sets out The Farmer’s Policy

at the outset that, firstly, you plan, establish and then

for the coming year. Another vital ingredient of success

manage the right agreement for your collective needs.

is the working relationship created between Farmer and Contractor. Regular management meetings are held and minuted, which allow the par ties to monitor the farming and the budget as the Contract year progresses.

Secondly, where insurance is concerned, you need to review each of your insurance needs ver y carefully and take advice from your insurer or broker so that you are well protected. Once you can relax in the knowledge that

At the end of the year, management accounts are prepared

you are well prepared and well covered, you can, not quite

to calculate the rewards due to both par ties. As a key par t

sit back, but cer tainly, reap the rewards of your agreement

of good, ongoing communication, the year’s performance

together.

against budget is reviewed, thoroughly and adjustments are made to Farming Policy as necessar y.

The benefits to both par ties, of the right agreement can be ver y significant, but care and attention is needed along the way and all of these stages are core ser vices that our Farm Business team at GSC Grays offers to our clients.

In the establishment of a new Contract it is also vital that both par ties review and put in place appropriate and sufficient “Insurance Cover”. This is necessar y to protect not only their own proper ty such as livestock, buildings

JAMES SEVERN RURAL DIRECTOR

01347 820503 jrs@gscgrays.co.uk

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

11

A CHANGING LANDSCAPE: THE RESULTS OF OUR RURAL SURVEY The next few years are undoubtedly going to be some of the most turbulent the farming industry has seen in a generation.

podcasts and shor t guides that will address some of the key questions, concerns and oppor tunities that we have drawn from the sur vey results.

AGE

With the introduction of the Agricultural Bill and Environment Bill, and new trade deals following the Brexit

30%

negotiations, the industr y will have to undergo a period of rapid change. To prepare, farmers are well advised to review their options whilst the safety net of the Basic Payment Scheme is still in place.

10%

12%

13%

20-30

31-40

41-50

22% 13%

0% <20

51-60

61-70

As we enter this period of change it is impor tant more than ever that the advice and ser vices GSC Grays provides continues to be informed, relevant and focussed on the

FARM TYPE

challenges our clients face.

In July this year, we conducted a sur vey of farm businesses in our region, covering a range of topics such as COVID-19, land prices, efficiencies and environmental issues. We asked land managers and business owners about their attitudes to key issues and their concerns for the future. Above all, we wanted to understand if/how our clients were star ting to prepare for the for thcoming reduction and ultimate

21% 21% ARABLE

55%

PASTORAL

MIXED

removal of the Basic Payment Scheme subsidy.

The sur vey was distributed to clients via email or post, and to the farming community more widely via social media.

More than 150 respondents completed the sur vey and we

FARM SIZE

would like to thank ever yone who took the time to submit their contributions.

We have set out some of the most impor tant findings here and over the coming months, we will be exploring some of these topics in more detail in our ‘Changing Landscape’ programme – a carefully curated series of vir tual events,

11% 0-100

22% 100-250

34% 250-500 ACRES

12

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18% 15% 500-1000

1000+

70+

When we asked our respondents whether their

Perhaps more concerning, was that a fur ther 20% of

business would be profitable today without BPS

respondents said they were not sure whether they would turn a profit without subsidy.

- 49% said it would not and 31% said it would (rising to 50% amongst 20-30 year olds).

ARE YOU PART OF A BENCHMARKING GROUP?

16% YES

84%

Although there is much we don’t know about the future of farm suppor t in England, we know that BPS will not be paid beyond

NO

2027. It is essential that businesses prepare for this change and a critical first step is to understand exactly what propor tion of your profit margin is provided by subsidy.

It was also interesting to see that businesses that are under taking benchmarking were more confident about their profitability after BPS, compared to those who aren’t benchmarking. While we can see a correlation there, it does not mean

OF THE 16% WHO WERE PART OF A BENCHMARKING GROUP

56%

that there is a causal relationship between benchmarking and dependence on subsidy; however it does suggest that businesses who are keeping a close eye on their efficiency and performance are more positive about their future. This chimes with existing repor ts by the AHDB and others that identify benchmarking as a key characteristic of top-performing farms.

THOUGHT THEIR BUSINESS WOULD BE PROFITABLE AFTER BPS

Building on these results, we have decided to star t our Changing Landscape

COMPARED TO

programme by focussing on the figures. On page 4 of this magazine you will find

26%

an ar ticle from Greg Ricketts looking at how to handle shor t term pressure on cashflow and introducing the first results from one of our new model farms, and on pages 20-22 John Coleman will be assessing the state of the farmland market as we near the end of the year. We’ll be sharing more guidance and information about budgets, gross margins and getting to grips with farm data in

OF THOSE WHO DID NOT BENCHMARK

our for thcoming online campaigns.

HALF OF 20-30 YEAR OLDS SAID THEY EXPECTED THEIR BUSINESS WOULD BE PROFITABLE WITHOUT BPS COMPARED WITH 30.82% ACROSS THE SAMPLE

50%

30.82%

20-30 YEAR OLDS

WHOLE SAMPLE

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

13

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED EXPANDING THE FARMING BUSINESS?

61% YES

WHAT OPTIONS HAVE YOU CONSIDERED?

39% NO

37% 25% 14%

BUYING MORE LAND RENTING MORE LAND

13%

11%

CONTRACT FARMING MORE LAND

SHARE FARMING MORE LAND

CONTRACTING

DIVERSIFICATION IN ORDER OF POPULARITY 1. CONVERSION OF FARM BUILDINGS INTO NON-AGRICULTURAL USE

37%

development.

The majority of our respondents had considered expanding their farm business and by far the most popular option for expansion was taking were surprised to find that, although contract and

36%

share farming have increased in popularity over recent years, relatively few farmers said they had considered these arrangements. Is this because

3. LEISURE/TOURISM

they are still not well understood, or are there not

24% 4. PLANTING LESS PRODUCTIVE AREAS WITH TREES

19% 5. INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE ENTERPRISES (PIGS/POULTRY)

15% 6. FARM SHOP/DIRECT SALES

11%

GSC GRAYS

related to forward planning and business

on more land, whether rented or purchased. We

2. RENEWABLES

14

Some of our most interesting findings

enough oppor tunities readily available?

In December, our Changing Landscape programme will be exploring different ways of growing your business and how to work out which option is best for you. We will be running a Q&A with one of our farm business consultants so if you have questions about joint ventures, share farming or contract farming, please send them in to changinglandscape@gscgrays.co.uk and we will do our best to get through as many as we can.

HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAD A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AFFECT ON YOUR BUSINESS INCOME?

Our survey was first sent out in

34%

July 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic had not long passed its first peak.

4%

We suspected that for many in the farming

community

62%

business

had

POSITIVE

NEGATIVE

NEUTRAL

continued largely as normal, with the exception of those whose businesses were more directly entwined with

More than a third of respondents said that COVID-19 had a negative effect on

the catering and hospitality industries,

their business income, with many citing the impact on diversified farm enterprises

but the results of the sur vey still held

as a key area of concern. A smaller propor tion, only 28% had applied for a

some surprises.

bounce back loan.

HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR A BOUNCE BACK LOAN?

DO YOU SEE ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC?

28%

29%

YES

72% NO

YES

71% NO

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

15

We were encouraged to find that 29% of respondents thought the pandemic could also bring oppor tunities for their business. Some obser ved that the pandemic had drawn attention to the impor tance of domestic food security and had generated oppor tunities for selling products direct as people became more interested in local food. Interestingly, when respondents were asked later about options for diversification, only 11% said they were currently making direct sales of their produce or running a farm shop, and of those that did not only 6% said they would be interested in doing so in the future.

N OV EMB E R Figuring things o ut Ge tting to gr ip s with the numb e r s b e hind yo ur bus ine s s c o uld he lp yo u build a mo re re s ilie nt far m. We ’ll b e s tar ting the Changing Land s c ap e p ro gr amme by taking a lo ng hard lo o k at the d ata, fro m full financ ial ap p r ais als to the s mall d e tails that c o uld he lp yo u d r ive up e ffic ie nc y.

DEC E MB ER Gro wing yo ur business

We will be looking fur ther into the impact of COVID-19 on diversification, from rural office space to ‘staycationing’, as par t of our month-long focus on diversified farm businesses this Januar y - all par t of the Changing Landscape programme.

If you are not already registered with us and would like to register for more information on the forthcoming Changing Landscape Campaign programme, email:

Whe the r yo u’re lo o king to e x p and , p rovid e o p p o r tunitie s fo r the ne x t ge ne r atio n o r take yo ur bus ine s s in a ne w d ire c tio n, o ur fo c us in De c e mb e r will b e he lp ing yo u we igh up d iffe re nt o p tio ns fo r growth. Find o ut ab o ut c o ntr ac t far ming, s hare far ming, jo int ve nture s and land mar ke ts fro m o ur s p e c ialis t c o ns ultants and p r ac tic al c as e s tud ie s .

J AN UARY Diversific atio n What are the c halle nge s and o p p o r tunities fo r far me r s lo o king at d ive r s ific atio n in 2021? Fro m the imp ac t o f COVID-19 to far ming the s un, o ur Januar y p ro gr amme will b e taking a fre s h lo o k at d ive r s ific atio n.

changinglandscape@gscgrays.co.uk

FEB RUARY

with your name and address to register your interest.

Co ming up with the go o ds T he mantr a o f ‘p ublic mo ne y fo r p ublic go o d s ’ is all to o familiar, but it c an b e d iffic ult to p in d own e x ac tly what it will me an fo r r ur al bus ine s s e s . In Fe b r uar y we will b e s har ing e ve r y thing we know ab o ut the ne w ELM s y s te m and o ffe r ing s o me to p tip s fo r 2021 s te ward s hip ap p lic atio ns.

MARC H Lo o king fo rwards

JOHN WALLIS RURAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

01347 820498 jkw@gscgrays.co.uk

16

GSC GRAYS

A s Sp r ing ap p ro ac he s o ur p ro gr amme will d r aw to a c lo s e with a tho ught p rovo king mo nth lo o king at how and why yo u c an d e ve lo p p lans fo r the future , e ve n in unc e r tain time s . A ltho ugh to p ic s s uc h as re tire me nt and s uc c e s s io n c an b e hard to b ro ac h, having c o nve r s atio ns ab o ut to mo r row c an he lp yo u build a s tro nge r bus ine s s fo r to d ay.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WOODLAND PLANTING SCHEMES

SPECIES-MIX

Our recent survey revealed that 19% of farmers and land managers have already planted less productive areas of farmland with trees, and 11% would be interested in doing so in the future.

TIMING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Grant schemes commonly have criteria governing the species make-up and planting density of a new woodland.

For instance, for the WCG 60% of the trees planted must be native species; while for the Woodland Carbon Fund, the proposed woodland must be classed as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;productiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at least 70% productive species as a propor tion of the net planted area.

There are many woodland creation grant schemes available and it can be difficult to work out which ones you would be eligible for, and which might provide the best financial suppor t. There is also a great deal of speculation about how suppor t might change under the new Environmental Land Management system. DEFRA have stated that nobody who chooses to plant woodland today will be left worse off under a new scheme as a result, but without being able to weigh existing schemes against future payment rates it is difficult to know that for sure.

Planning your project carefully and applying for schemes in the right order is critical to securing the right suppor t. You must apply for the WCPG at the ver y star t of your project - if an application has already been put in for another scheme, or if an EIA enquir y form has been submitted, you will not be eligible. If you are interested in emerging carbon markets, then you should consider whether grant funding might affect your eligibility for the Woodland Carbon Code.

LOCATION Some schemes are nationally available, while others, such as the Nor th York Moors Woodland Creation scheme, are regionally targeted. If your site falls within a priority area for flood mitigation or water quality, then you might be able to access additional funding through the Woods for Water programme .

Rather than indulge in any cr ystal-ball gazing, we would like to help you make sense of the funding that is on offer today and establish whether or not woodland planting is a sensible proposition for your site. To get you star ted, here are just a few of the factors you should consider when you are weighing up different funding options:

Many woodland schemes are open all year round and our specialists are always happy to advise on which funding streams you might be eligible for and, crucially, which schemes best match your own objectives for the site. If you decide to move your project forwards, we offer a comprehensive range of grant application suppor t, planning and woodland management ser vices.

SIZE Most grant schemes have a minimum eligible area. The Countr yside

Stewardship Woodland

Creation

Grant

(WCG) has a minimum area of 3 ha (or just 1 ha if planting for water quality or flood prevention), which makes it popular with landowners looking to plant small blocks of amenity woodland or farmers who want to plant up less productive land.

For larger sites of over 10ha the

Woodland Creation Planning Grant can be a useful source

HOLLY STORY SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

01748 897603 has@gscgrays.co.uk

of suppor t to help you scope and plan your project.

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

17

PUTTING ELM TO THE TEST GSC Grays are working with Sir Edward Milbank and farmers from Barningham Estate to help shape the design of the new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELM).

Barningham Estate has a long and rich history of conservation, begun by Sir Anthony Milbank (co-founder of the Moorland Association and RSPB council member) and continued today by his son Sir Edward Milbank. The result of their pioneering work is a landscape that is exceptionally diverse.

18

GSC GRAYS

The Estate spans the border of County Durham and Nor th

environmental management, both for farmers and for the

Yorkshire - reaching from open moorland with blanket

environment.

bog habitats and miles of dr y stone walls, through rough pasture and a black grouse lek, to hay meadows, wetlands and SSSI ancient woodland. There are over 140 species of bird and 24 ‘red list’ protected species on the Estate.

The first step in the project was to produce a set of natural capital accounts for the project area. This work, under taken in par tnership with AECOM, is now almost complete. The accounts will provide a comprehensive

The farm businesses on the

and quantified register of the

Estate

natural ‘assets’ on the Estate

range

from

tenanted

upland sheep farms to in-hand arable land that is contract farmed. Each farm has a different business model and different objectives for the coming years, and each holding or common has

its

own

stewardship

agreement – resulting in a total

and the value of the ecosystems

Tr i al l i ng a c o l l ab o r ati ve w a y o f pl anni ng a nd pr i o r i ti si ng e n vi ro nme ntal m anage me nt

ser vices they deliver. This will help

the

group

to

identify

those par ts of the landscape, or par ticular ecosystem ser vices, that are flourishing, and those which

have

the

greatest

potential for improvement. The

of 10 different environmental

recommendations drawn from

and

stewardship

the accounts will be taken back

agreements across the Estate. It

to the group for discussion,

is this mix of farm types, coupled

and will go on to form the

with a clear commitment to

basis of an Estate-wide land

conser vation, that make the

management plan.

countr yside

Estate an ideal test-bed for new

The use of Natural Capital

ideas about land management

Accounting

and environmental suppor t.

to

inform

a

landscape-scale review of the

In 2019 Sir Edward asked GSC

environmental management on

Grays to draw up an application for the ELM Test and

the Estate is a new approach to land management planning.

Trials programme on behalf of the Estate and its tenant

By planning and working as a group, the hope is that in

farmers. After a long and competitive application process

future the farmers’ approach to conser vation will be more

the ‘Barningham Farmers Group’ successfully secured a

effective and efficient, both for their businesses and for

contract with DEFRA at the star t of 2020 to deliver a year-

wildlife on the Estate.

long ELM test project, facilitated by Holly Stor y (Senior Environmental Management Consultant at GSC Grays).

The success of the project, and the experience of the farmers par ticipating in it, will be reviewed when the

The aim of the project is to trial a new, collaborative way

project closes at the end of the year. The project findings

of planning and prioritising environmental management –

will be fed back to DEFRA to help to inform the design of

one that doesn’t stop at the farm gate. In the past, the

the ELM scheme pilots, which are due to launch in 2021.

number of stewardship agreements and Natural England’s somewhat disjointed management of those schemes, has meant that in many cases the farmland and upland habitats across the Estate have been managed independently, on a farm-by-farm basis. The ELM test project will explore the potential benefits of a landscape-scale approach to

HOLLY STORY SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

01748 897603 has@gscgrays.co.uk

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

19

EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED John Coleman, Director and Head of Farms & Countr y Houses looks at how farmland and rural proper ty markets have performed in 2020.

20

GSC GRAYS

FARMS AND FARMLAND

achieved remains wide. Blocks of bare arable land have

Although there has been a late flurry in 2020, the farm market has been dominated by the impact of the fallout from COVID-19.

whilst more marginal land has struggled to reach £5,500 per

This was the year that agents were predicting a return to more normal volumes of land being offered for sale having had two years of record low supplies, but it has not turned

again achieved over £10,000+ per acre for the ver y best acre nationally. In our region we have analysed the spread of land values, from successful bare land and whole farm sales at an average of between £6,690 and £8700 per acre but due to the number of smaller farms offered, par ticularly in highly sought after residential areas of Nor th Yorkshire, overall farm prices have been encouragingly strong. As ever special purchasers have heavily influenced the market.

AVERAGE FARMLAND VALUES IN YORKSHIRE & THE NORTH EAST

out that way. At the end of September, the national offering of land adver tised had fallen by 40% year on year to less than 50,000 acres although in Yorkshire and the Nor th

£10,000 £8,000

East the reduction is only marginal, dominated in acreage

£6,000

terms by a single 1,142 acre farm in Nor thumberland near

£4,000

Cornhill-on-Tweed which now has a closing date for best

£2,000

bids at the end of October - the market will watch with

£0

interest the result of that.

2015

Arable

2016

2017

Permanent: Pasture

2018

2019

Rough/tree planting

2020 * Hill/moor

LAND SUPPLY IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND (50 ac - advertised on the open market)

ACRES

*

Neighbours have bid strongly when the oppor tunity arises

to Septemer 2020

20000

and non-farming buyers have been active for smaller units.

15000

Rollover has played a par t again this year, although not to quite the same extent as the previous three years.

1000 5000 0

Sales are taking noticeably longer to transact, which is 2015

2016

Northumberland

2017 Co. Durham

2018

2019

North Yorkshire

2020 * Cumbria

Fur thermore, expectations were that with an increase in supply, land values would come under pressure as Brexit became a reality with the passing of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and more became

causing some frustration in the market.

local authorities are taking between six and ten weeks to get searches back, whilst valuers, conveyancers and funders are struggling to cope with demand, due to high levels of residential sales.

As for the near future, we are cer tainly expecting things to settle down and our predictions

known about the replacement of

farming

subsidies

for the coming year are similar

and

how they would impact on incomes. None of these market influences have come to pass as demand continues to outstrip the meagre supply and prices, if anything, have increased a little on those of last year halting a

Under-staffed

We can’t he l p t hinki ng that l and p r i ce s are go i ng to c o me unde r fur the r pre ssure .

three-year downward trend.

Continuing a trend of the last few years the range of prices

to those of this year before COVID-19 took hold. Of our own clients, there are a range of differing views; some are keen to press ahead, having taken the view that prices will not get any better in the shor t term, whilst

others are taking

a more pragmatic approach, preferring to wait until some of the uncer tainty is out of

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

21

the market and more is known about Environmental Land

of appetite for good plantations and although timber

Management (ELM), the value of natural capital and seeing

prices have fallen somewhat recently, the lack of supply,

where they can add value before committing to sell.

par ticularly in England, will ensure values remain strong.

There is no right answer, but we can’t help thinking that

Demand for small scale, accessible amenity woods of up to

land prices are only likely to come under fur ther pressure

25 acres are par ticularly well sought after.

as incomes are squeezed and while the cost of borrowed money remains as low as it is, now is the time to sell, if all other options have been exhausted.

RESIDENTIAL Although this is an article about the farmland market it would be wrong to ignore the residential sector which has been exceptional.

Following nearly 10 weeks of almost no new agreed sales, agonising delays for those who had agreed a sale before lockdown and a ban on moving house for those who had exchanged, the market burst back to life with the lifting of restrictions in early June. Since then GSC Grays agency branches have experienced frenetic activity with new instructions up 89.8%, the number of viewings and the number of offers made up over 100% and number of agreed sales up 107% over the last quar ter - 171% in September alone. This is bound to impact on values which will become evident as sales complete in the weeks ahead.

FORESTRY Another interesting market this year has been the forestry market.

Nationally there have been a number of large forest sales aimed at the investment market with mixed age, commercial conifer plantations attracting strong interest, par ticularly where yields can exceed 8% over the medium term and

SPORTING The Sporting Estate market has faced a number of additional challenges this year with country sports and upland management coming under the microscope once again.

Despite these challenges, demand for the right proper ty remains relatively strong from both overseas and domestic purchasers.

The key factor is the requirement for an estate to include alternative assets that can underpin its value, should the spor ting asset value diminish in the event of changing legislation. In addition, whilst some purchasers still seek a complete estate the ability to enable conser vation and environmental enhancement has become key for others.

Supply has been low with limited offerings in the last 12 months. Several high-profile estates brought to the market in 2019 remain unsold. Operational challenges caused by COVID-19 paired with increasing external pressures have led to a ner vousness amongst some buyers, par ticularly where prices are perceived to be too full and underlying asset values are limited.

Notwithstanding this, the market outlook remains positive.

Purchasers understand the wider benefits of spor ting estates and the role they can play in combatting both climate change and biodiversity decline and a new type of purchaser is emerging within the market.

commercial timber remains exempt from income tax and capital gains tax. Recent evidence shows sale prices of

JOHN COLEMAN

between £4,000 and £6,500 per acre (£9,900 and £16,000

DIRECTOR

per hectare) for commercial crops although the majority of these are in Scotland and Wales. There remains plenty

22

GSC GRAYS

01748 897627 jarc@gscgrays.co.uk

THE FUTURE COULD BE TAXING The ongoing uncertainty in agriculture has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, although both the Agriculture and Environment Bills continue to progress through Parliament.

Harvest has been patchy, at best, and Brexit looms large once more.

For those who are lucky enough to have land with development potential, it may be prudent to consider transferring the site to an alternative vehicle. This will bring forward an initial tax bill and, depending on its current value, Stamp Duty Land Tax, but it could save on taxation overall.

There remain many tenancy agreements on estates which run from year to year. Considering alternative agreements, such as Share or Contract Farming, may help increase your trading income and also create greater oppor tunities for

Whilst the Government’s focus remains on combatting

future Natural Capital income streams; these are discussed

COVID-19 for the time being, as clearly demonstrated in

in more detail by Holly Stor y in her ar ticle on page 17.

the Chancellor’s recent statement, the decisions about how to pay for the Government schemes have yet to be taken.

The press has trailed potential focus on Capital Taxation

It may also be a good time to bring the next generation into the business to spread the risk and encourage innovation

because of the Government’s

alternative income stream.

election manifesto pledges on Income Tax and VAT, but is it all doom and gloom?

Although remains

the

Cr ystal

opaque,

it

Ball seems

probable that Capital Gains Tax will increase and Inheritance Tax

to seek out the next crop or

T h e delaye d bu d g et p rov id e s a w in dow of o pp o r t u nit y

will come under pressure, with Agricultural Proper ty Relief a likely target. It is also possible that Corporation Tax may be

This a

brief

ar ticle

snapshot

of

oppor tunities

and

provides potential food

for

thought at this uncer tain time.

We are busy working with clients to create and take advantage of these oppor tunities and look forward to discussing yours to see how best we can help.

increased, although this may be for larger companies only.

The delayed budget provides a window of oppor tunity to assess how you want to structure your business and whether you want to accelerate sales that you were already considering.

HUGO MALLABY RURAL DIRECTOR

01765 689224 achm@gscgrays.co.uk

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

23

THE WHOLE BUILDING APPROACH Historic Homes and the Green Homes Grant

The UK Government has declared a climate emergency; and whilst previous Governments have sought to introduce measures and legislation to slow climate change over the years, this new declaration comes with an acknowledgement that a new approach is needed.

24

GSC GRAYS

Measures announced in the Chancellor’s Summer Statement, most notably the Green Homes Grant, highlight the Government’s recognition that a different approach is required.

The Green Homes Grant looks to cover a significant propor tion of cer tain energy efficiency works to homes, up to a cap of £5,000, in most cases. The works will need to be under taken by a scheme approved contractor, with grants available, primarily, for works to improve the insulation in proper ties or, to install alternative heating sources. Secondar y measures, such as double glazing, can

on a single estate and caution is advised as some works may have unintended consequences. In the same month Rishi Sunak announced his Green Homes Grant, Historic England (HE) published a new advice note, HE Advice Note 14 – Energy Efficiency and Traditional Homes. This note promotes the Whole Building Approach when it comes to making alterations aimed at improving the energy efficiency of a traditional proper ty. It warns that due to the differences in construction techniques used in historic proper ties compared to those used in modern buildings, energy efficiency measures can often result in unintended consequences, such as increased damp or deterioration in brick and stone work. It is therefore impor tant that those with traditional proper ties should look to take independent exper t advice from a specialist assessor, who understands

also be covered but only if works are

Fur ther

advice

was

issued

in

September and confirmed that the scheme would be open to landlords as

well

as

private

homeowners.

Ene rg y e f f icie ncy m e a su re s ca n o f te n re su lt in u ninte nde d co nse q u e nce s

announcement,

especially

for traditional estates and landowners, whose residential stock is often largely historic in nature and not par ticularly energy efficient. A subsequent update has confirmed that landlords will not be able to access the grant funding, unless their proper ty already complies with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) or has a registered exemption.

This update will inevitably mean that the scheme is less appealing to many landlords, who would have sought to use the funding to improve the EPC ratings of their less efficient housing stock, so that they could comply with MEES. However, there has been some talk of the Government changing the minimum energy efficiency rating for private rented proper ties sometime in the future, from an “E” to a

To prevent long term issues it is advisable that any works under taken using the Green Homes Grant form par t of a wider scheme of routine maintenance

and

improvement

works. This is especially true for those

Whilst this was seen as a par ticularly positive

proper ties,

before instructing individual works.

under taken to the insulation or to install alternative heating measures.

heritage

with multiple traditional proper ties, where a full assessment across a por tfolio can identify a programme of works, which can then be planned to make best use of available funds and resources. We are using this approach on a number of Estates, looking to reduce longer term issues and improve the longevity of older proper ties, therefore minimising the need to under take costly works in the future.

Whilst the Green Homes Grant will help many home owners and landlords reduce their carbon footprint and improve the energy efficiency of their proper ties, it is advisable that those with heritage proper ties under take a full review of their proper ty prior to committing to works under the scheme.

“D”. Therefore landlords may wish to take this oppor tunity to fur ther improve their proper ties in anticipation of a future change in legislation.

Before committing to works to traditional buildings it is wor th bearing in mind that they can var y greatly, even

ALEXANDER TERRY SENIOR SURVEYOR

0191 3039543 awjt@gscgrays.co.uk

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

25

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE In August the Government launched a consultation on radical planning reform.

This runs until 29th October and seeks views on a package of measures which the White Paper describes as delivering â&#x20AC;&#x153;a more engaging, more equitable and effective system which will halve the time it takes to achieve a planning decisionâ&#x20AC;?.

26

GSC GRAYS

The Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposals to reform the planning

of the process with a fast track option for schemes which

process are wide ranging and this ar ticle focusses on how

reflect local character and preferences.

these will impact on the most common interface people have with the planning system.

In this regard, there are a number of key ambitions.

IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DELIVERY CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) and Section 106

STREAMLINE THE PLANNING PROCESS

contributions will be done away with and replaced with a nationally set, value based levy. The ambition for this is to

The White Paper proposes radical reform of local plans with a suite of centrally drawn, nationally imposed development management policies allowing the production of simplified Local Plans (c a third of their current size). These would use 3 principal designations for land:

raise more revenue than the current system, to capture a greater share of the uplift which comes from development and to deliver more infrastructure which the existing and new communities require.

There will be at least the same level of affordable housing

GROWTH

Suitable for substantial development

RENEWAL

Suitable for some development

PROTECTED

No development

delivered with a greater emphasis for this to be on site. Schemes consented through the recently widened permitted development rights will be captured by the new levy.

The White Paper also encourages the development of

DIGITAL FIRST APPROACH

brownfield land. This could see a focus on town and city centre schemes especially if there remains a significant

Local plans are to be produced within

downturn in their for tunes in a post

a national template and in a more

COVID-19 world.

visual, map based form accessed via the latest technology.

The

decision-making

process

will

become process driven and based on data. Councils will use digital tools

B e au t y w ill b e p u t at the he ar t o f th e pro c e s s

This could all reduce the prospects of development on much of the land owned by our clients, however a focus on local design codes, environmental net gain and a simpler, quicker system

to deliver a new civic engagement

are all advantages which we should

process.

embrace.

They will make openly

and digitally available those datasets which inform their decisions.

FOCUS ON DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY

If you have an interest in development, I would recommend reading the White Paper (as there is more to it than this ar ticle covers) and engaging with the consultation. If the impact of these proposals is something which you would like advice on, then please get in touch.

The overhauled system will facilitate ambitious climate change and environmental benefits. These will be achieved with a quicker and simpler framework for assessing environmental impact and oppor tunities for enhancement.

Through locally produced design codes based on genuine

CALUM GILLHESPY DIRECTOR

01833 694931 crg@gscgrays.co.uk

community engagement, beauty will be put at the hear t

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020

27

WELCOME TO THE TEAM Here at GSC Grays, we recognise our people are our greatest asset; connected by a passion for the countryside and supporting the rural communities in which we live and work.

GSC Grays recognise that all our clients are different with

Our teams are well placed to deliver regional coverage

Over the last 12 months, we have made several new

across the Nor th of England, with the benefit of in-depth local knowledge and having exper t boots on the ground enables us to deliver a first class ser vice for our clients across all sectors of the industr y.

differing needs, so we take the time to understand you and your requirements. As par t of that, our teams need to be agile and flexible to enable us to deliver an entirely bespoke ser vice to meet your needs and drive the right results for you.

appointments,

including

expanding

the

new

Land

Management Team at Easingwold bolstering the established Farm Business Ser vices team at our Alnwick office. You can find out more about some of our new members of the team here:

GEORGINA WATSON

HUGO MALLABY

01347 820499 hgw@gscgrays.co.uk

01765 689224 achm@gscgrays.co.uk

Land Agent, Georgina Watson has joined our Easingwold office.

Georgina’s appointment marks the next step for the relatively new Land Management Team at Easingwold.

This year the Estate Management team welcomed Hugo Mallaby as Estates Director for Swinton Estate.

RURAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

RURAL DIRECTOR

Georgina, who comes from a farming family, has worked in East Yorkshire for several years, advising and suppor ting private clients, estates and charities with her extensive experience and knowledge in the rural land sector.

EMMA SMITH

PETER KNOX

RURAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

SURVEYOR

01665 568 310 ecs@gscgrays.co.uk

0191 303 9546 pck@gscgrays.co.uk Our Chester-le-Street office welcomed Sur veyor Peter Knox to the team earlier this year. Peter comes from a farming family and has recently moved up from Her tfordshire, where he completed his MRICS qualifications working with a variety of private clients, trusts and charities as a general practice sur veyor.

This role gave Peter an ideal preparation for the varied day to day estate and forestr y management work he now under takes for GSC Grays.

28

GSC GRAYS

Hugo has over 20 years’ experience advising owners of private, institutional and public sector estates across the countr y, including 14 years with Smiths Gore before his most recent role running Cambridgeshire County Council’s 33,000 acre County Farms Estate.

The existing team at our Alnwick office has been fur ther bolstered by the appointment of land agent, Emma Smith. Emma will be par t of our team delivering estate management to clients across the nor th and helping to build on the existing ser vices already offered at the Alnwick office, with her comprehensive land and rural business ser vices experience. Alongside this, Emma will also be overseeing residential lettings for our clients in Nor thumberland.

Emma, who grew up on a Nor thumberland dair y farm, has worked in the region for several years and is keen to work with clients looking to rise to the challenge of building successful farming businesses post BPS.

* Please note that the information contained within this briefing is based on the current understanding of Government Legislation and is subject to ongoing change. Before making any decisions that will affect your business you should seek further advice.

OU R OF F ICE S ALNWICK

COLBURN

HEXHAM

01665 568 310

01748 897630

01434 611565

5F Linnet Cour t Cawledge Business Park Alnwick Nor thumberland NE66 2GD

5 & 6 Bailey Cour t Colburn Business Park Richmond Nor th Yorkshire DL9 4QL

BARNARD CASTLE

EASINGWOLD

12 The Bank Barnard Castle County Durham DL12 8PQ

01833 694935

Far Shires Granary York Road Easingwold Nor th Yorkshire YO61 3EJ

CHESTER-LE-STREET

HAMSTERLEY

0191 303 9540

01388 487000

01347 837100

Dunns 2, Bowes Offices Lambton Park Chester-le-Street County Durham DH3 4AN

Swallow Cottage Hamsterley Bishop Auckland County Durham DL13 3QF

Pod 2 Eastburn, South Park Hexham Nor thumberland NE46 1BS

LEYBURN

15 High Street Leyburn Nor th Yorkshire DL8 5AH

01969 600120 STOKESLEY

26 - 28 High Street Stokesley Nor th Yorkshire TS9 5DQ

01642 710742

ALNWICK

A1M NORTH

NORTHUMBERLAND NATIONAL PARK

HEXHAM

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE SUNDERLAND

CHESTER-LE-STREET COUNTY DURHAM A1M NORTH

HAMSTERLEY A66 TRANS PENNINE

BARNARD CASTLE

DARLINGTON

MIDDLESBROUGH

STOKESLEY NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS NATIONAL PARK

COLBURN LEYBURN

YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK

EASINGWOLD A1M SOUTH

YORKSHIRE

G S C G R A Y S NOVEMBER 2020 WETHERBY

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