Rural Services 2022

Rural Services

Symonds &Sampson

On behalf of XXXX Farms I would just like to thank you for all your input in securing planning consent with a detailed set of plans drawn up in a very professional way

Thank you so much for conducting the collective farm sale here. It all went smoothly which no doubt was down to you and Greg’s competence. You do make a great team.

Thank you for handling the sale so professionally, so sensitively and with such integrity. I was truly impressed with your expertise and decorum.

Thank you so much Paul and all your team for the amazing support and hard work you put into helping sort the auction.

Mr & Mrs PB

Many thanks again for all your help in getting the deal across the line. A good thing we had the best agents working for us!

JH

Thank you for the very professional way you handled the sale of the land and the wood far exceeding what we were hoping to get for both and we are delighted! CH

Wimborne

Blandford

Sturminster Newton

Sherborne

Dorchester Bridport

Salisbury

Yeovil Beaminster

Ilminster

Axminster

Poundbury

Tiverton

Why Symonds & Sampson Rural Services?

Symonds & Sampson LLP is one of the leading rural professional firms in the South West. For 165 years, we have been providing advice and professional services to our clients and selling farms, land, machinery and livestock.

A history built on traditional values has not hindered progression; we have continued to move with the times and invested in both cuttingedge technology and our team’s continuing professional training and development.

Our clients are core to everything we do at Symonds & Sampson. Ensuring our communication is clear, correct and concise means our valued customers have all the information they need to make the right decisions.

Our clients are core to everything we do at Symonds & Sampson

Combine this with expert knowledge of legislation, and our membership of professional bodies - including RICS, CAAV, ARLA Propertymark and NAEA Propertymark - and you’ll see why we’ve built trusted, longterm relationships with individuals, corporate bodies and charities across the UK.

With over 60 professionally qualified staff throughout our 16 regional offices, we are ideally positioned to deliver a comprehensive range of services that extend well beyond selling and letting houses, commercial property, land and farms.

To find out how Symonds & Sampson can assist you, please contact any one of our offices across Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Farms & Land Agency

No two properties are the same, but Symonds & Sampson have the experience to guide you through the various options open to you to ensure that you achieve the best result.

Our Network

Our 16 regional offices work together, sharing potential buyers and promoting your property throughout the area.

The London Office

Our presence in the capital is an important marketing tool to get your property seen by the widest national and international audience. We are part of a nationwide network of over 225 independent estate agent offices via The London Office.

Professional Brochures Plans & Photography

First impressions count, therefore we use professional photos, elevated shots, drone photography and 3D virtual tours suited to each individual property, as well as floor plans and maps to produce your professional, bespoke property brochure.

Marketing & Advertising

Our properties feature on our website as well as the leading property portals. We also have an active presence on social media, and advertise in and submit editorial copy regularly to the local, regional and national press including specialist farming publications. Bespoke roadside boards can be designed and erected on your behalf.

Sales Progression

We don’t stop working for you after finding a buyer. Having an experienced agent who understands the conveyancing process is one of our strengths, and frequently recognised by clients.

Our Agency Services

Private Treaty Sales

A buyer and seller negotiate through an estate agent until a sale price and terms are agreed.

Sale by Tender

Prospective purchasers are invited to submit their best price, usually in writing, by a given date and time.

Sale by Auction

A property is offered for sale on a given date. Bidders can bid in person, by telephone, online or by proxy. Contracts exchange on the fall of the hammer, with a pre-agreed completion date (usually 28 days).

Off Market Sales

We have successfully sold property by all methods of sale across the whole region, ranging from the smallest pony paddock to commercial farms and estates, achieving fantastic results for our clients.

Farm Business Tenancies

An arrangement which sees a tenant, either an individual or a business rent all or part of a farm for trade or business and primarily or wholly for agricultural purposes.

Contract Farming Arrangements

An arrangement where the landowner or tenant (Farmer) provides land, buildings and other fixed equipment and engages a Contractor to provide labour and machinery.

Grazing Licences

An arrangement granting permission for a licensee/ grazier to access the licensor’s property to take grass or a crop by cutting or grazing.

Buying services

We regularly act for clients who are expanding their rural business, to secure the best terms for the purchase.

Farm Finance

Symonds & Sampson work with vibrant and forward-thinking businesses looking at ways to improve efficiencies within their current business, pursue new income streams taking advantage of a relatively favourable rural planning regime or simply investing in land and buildings to expand the scale of the business.

Did you know that all our Rural Finance specialists are also qualified Chartered Surveyors and Valuers who understand farm businesses and property matters to provide a full wrap around service for those considering a specific investment or just looking to explore their options?

Amongst some of the more unusual funding proposals we have been involved in the last year are the following:

| Development of holiday accommodation across Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall

| Purchase of land for a ‘wild camping’ venture

| Conversion of former farm buildings for residential lettings

| Purchase of an industrial investment portfolio

| Investment in technology including robotic milkers and improved farm waste systems

| Purchase of a public house

| A proposed purchase of a diverse rural estate in Scotland

Natural Capital

As a fast-moving sector, our professional experts keep a close eye on how the private and publicly funded markets, regulation and legislation relating to Natural Capital assets develop to give the best possible advice to our clients across all sectors.

Biodiversity Net Gain

Developers are required to leave the biodiversity relating to a development site in a better state than before they undertook the development, giving rise to a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), as dictated by the Environment Act and the National Planning Policy Framework. We advise landowners in matters relating to private sector lease agreements which emerge as a result of changes in policy.

Nutrient Neutrality

The impact of pollutants, especially phosphates and nitrates, on protected environmental sites is an increasing issue which has wide ranging impacts on residential and agricultural development. Large parts of the South West fall within these catchments and any developments with the potential to increase the

pollution levels must prove they are nutrient neutral before planning permission can be granted. Where on site mitigation measures are not possible, developers may seek agreement with a third party to offset the impact of their development.

Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsetting is a way in which businesses seeking to reduce their carbon footprint can do so by paying a landowner in return for changing farming or land management practices to facilitate higher carbon capture. We are able to understand clients carbon requirements and related land management practices to advise accordingly.

Complete Advice

Symonds & Sampson’s history of valuation, planning and development combined with our experience of managing rural property places us in an unmatched position to give complete advice on how Natural Capital agreements may affect land value, management practices, and long-term strategy. Our experts advise on all matters involving the exploitation, exchange, off-setting or development of natural capital assets, on behalf of both developers and landowners

Planning & Development

Many of Symonds & Sampson’s surveyors specialise in rural planning, often liaising with our Building Survey and Design team on projects both large and small.

However large or small the project, our experienced team can help landowners with both rural and urban planning requirements and advise on matters including:

Farm Diversification

Identifying ways to maximise the performance of your rural business is one of Symonds & Sampson’s Rural Agents greatest skills.

We can assist you in all aspects of establishing a farm diversification enterprise including obtaining planning consent, preparing viability appraisals, grant identification and applications and advising on rent and lease terms.

| Permitted development.

| Class Q and residential conversions.

| Class R, change of use and diversification.

| Agricultural Occupancy Conditions.

| New farm buildings.

| Certificates of Lawful Use.

| Option and Promotion Agreements for housing developments.

Projects we have been involved with include:

| Conversion of farm buildings.

| Tourism opportunities.

| Renewable energy schemes.

| Establishing processing and direct sales of farm products.

Building Survey & Design

Our surveyors have experience dealing with all types and ages of property, and constantly assess the implication of any new regulations and legislation to implement any action required.

Services offered by Symonds & Sampson’s surveyors include:

| Architectural design; development, new build, conversions, refurbishment and extension.

| Development monitoring.

| Planning and Building Regulations design and advice.

| Detailed design and procurement project management.

| Building surveys and due diligence heritage property.

| Insurance reinstatement.

Rural Grant Schemes

Symonds & Sampson have experience in all matters relating to agricultural subsidies and rural grants. This includes making annual claims for the Basic Payment Scheme, sale, purchase and transfer of entitlements, registration of land, mapping amendments, cross compliance and resolving disputes with the RPA.

Our professionals advise on rural grant schemes including Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS). We can also keep you updated on policy developments as details surrounding the de-linking of agricultural subsidies and lump-sum exit payments are clarified.

Compulsory Purchase & Compensation

Many statutory undertakers and service providers enjoy legal rights of access to private land for the installation, repair and maintenance of pipelines, cables and other infrastructure.

Compensation for reduced land value, damage reinstatement and other losses is usually available. Symonds & Sampson frequently act for landowners and occupiers in negotiating statutory claims and agreeing the practical issues arising from utility schemes such as access and reinstatement. Compensation claims also arise where an authority has a right of compulsory purchase over land, for example to widen a road or install infrastructure.

In all of these examples authorities are required to meet the cost where we act on your behalf.

Estate & Property Management

Symonds & Sampson manage a range of property for individuals, trusts, companies, charities and others. Our management services incorporate all manner of Landlord and Tenant matters, as well as valuations for tax planning.

Types of property we manage include:

| Rural Estates & Agricultural Holdings.

| Property Investment Portfolios.

| Residential Retail, office & industrial.

| Block management.

We can also advise Landowners on such matters as countryside access, managing rights of way and can provide an accurate boundary mapping service of any land using our geode GPS reliever equipment.

Renewables

However large or small the scheme, we can work with you at every stage to ensure that your environmental development is a long-term and lucrative addition to your business.

Acting for energy companies, landowners and investors alike, Symonds & Sampson’s rural agents are used to dealing with energy schemes ranging from small domestic generation systems to anaerobic digesters and commercial wind and solar projects.

We can advise on the complex issues involved in establishing a scheme for our clients from the initial planning and grants, through negotiations to ensure favourable terms.

Renewables is a complex business and there are many potential hazards when negotiating agreements for a new large-scale project.

Agricultural Sales

Symonds & Sampson’s team of dedicated auctioneers have been auctioning livestock, equipment, fodder and standing straw since 1858.

Working closely with buyers and sellers, we act on behalf of individuals, Limited Companies, Local Authorities and insolvency practitioners throughout the South and West of England, conducting sales for a wide range of purposes including retirement, closure, insolvency, dispersal etc.

As a firm, we can offer:

| A bespoke auction service to suit your circumstances.

| A clear and consistent fee structure.

| Listing of individual items with photographs.

| Promotion through our extensive database of registered buyers and social media.

| Competitive commission rates.

| Prompt post-auction accounting.

Whether you are selling an entire farm stock or surplus items, our Agricultural Sales team will use their resources and experience to achieve the best result on your behalf in the most efficient way possible.

| Monthly timed online collective machinery auctions.

| On site and Online dispersal and collective machinery sales.

| Seasonal standing crop sales.

| Specialist sales of collectors and vintage machinery.

| Private treaty listings of livestock, grazing, crops and machinery.

Frome Livestock Market

Frome Market, in Somerset, is one of the South’s largest livestock centres with regular buyers from across the region as well as the rest of the country.

Symonds & Sampson are joint auctioneers at market and are supported by dedicated field officers who are able to make farm visits. Sales take place every Wednesday and Friday for store and fat cattle, cull cows, calves and dairy cows as well as fat and store sheep and pigs.

The market also offers special sales of breeding stock, TB registered cattle and organic livestock on a regular basis.

Valuation & Expert Witness

Symonds & Sampson’s Chartered Surveyors and RICS Registered Valuers

are able to provide formal valuations for all types of property, livestock and equipment.

This includes formal freehold and rental valuations for a variety of reasons including:

| Purchase, sale & disposal.

| Loan security & finance – including AMC capital.

| Insurance valuations.

| Taxation including probate, estate planning & accounts.

| Expert witness & dispute resolutions.

| Matrimonial & family disputes.

| Partnership & Company restructuring.

| Arbitration & mediation.

| Access rights, sporting rights & restrictive covenants.

| Self-invested Personal Pensions (SIPP).

| Development appraisal & monitoring.

| Charity Act valuations.

We can also act as a single joint expert or a party appointed expert to provide advice to a Court or Tribunal on your behalf.

Get In Touch

Axminster 01297 33122

Beaminster 01308 863100

Blandford 01258 452670

Bridport 01308 422092

Devizes 01380 710535

Dorchester 01305 261008

Frome 01373 831140

Ilminster 01460 200790

Poundbury 01305 236237

Salisbury 01722 334323

Sherborne 01935 814488

Sturminster 01258 472244

Tiverton 01884 218911

Wimborne 01202 843190

Yeovil 01935 423526

London 020 7839 0888

Symonds &Sampson

symondsandsampson.co.uk