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No two projects are alike, and the relative freedom of design and differing construction methods makes for many options and choices. The following guide has been designed to illustrate the general process in the run up to construction and the requirement for suitable drawings and technical expertise. It is always important to take professional advice,…

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) replaced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) with delinked payments in 2024. This month, following the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Spending Review 2025, they announced significant reductions in delinked payments for 2026 and 2027. Defra advises that the “reductions continue to enable more investment in environmental schemes…

New information was released about the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 at the National Farmers Union conference this week. It was announced that there will be two windows for applications later this year. The first will open in June 2026, for those defined as small holdings and those without existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) agreements….

Since its establishment in 1882, Robinson & Hall has grown to provide a diverse range of land and property services. With offices in Bedford and Buckingham, they primarily serve the East of England, though some projects extend beyond this region. A range of services offered Their unique portfolio of services enables them to support a…

‘Dilapidations’ is a specific area of law relating to breaches of a tenant’s lease obligations or covenants. A claim due to dilapidations can be made against a tenant by the landlord during or towards the end of a lease, or even after the lease has ended. The landlord’s claim is made by means of a…

Rachel Reeves had previously announced in the October 2024 Budget that the full Inheritance Tax (IHT) relief band for assets qualifying for Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) would be capped at £1 million per individual from 6th April 2026. It was later announced in the November 2025 Budget that this would…

The Localism Act of 2011 focussed on giving power back to the people and enabling them the opportunity to influence their surroundings and have their voices heard. For the sceptical ones, it was a power move by the Government that wouldn’t last. In December 2025, the Government announced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which is…

Following the decline of the Basic Payment Scheme and the tail off of delinked payments, the topic of farming subsidies is on everybody’s lips. A sudden halt in acceptance of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) applications in 2025 proved a considerable challenge for farmers across the nation, and the grey cloud over the future of Countryside…

New Starters We have welcomed three new starters since our last newsletter. New Starters We have welcomed three new starters since our last newsletter. Emma Ilsley joined us as Assistant Rural Surveyor in September 2025. She has worked in various roles prior, including working on a rural estate where she got involved with tractor work,…

What a change I’ve seen in 40 years! I have had the pleasure of working in and around Bedford throughout that period with two local firms. On my second day in full time work, I was given the task of measuring stockpiles of gravel and sand at a pit in Wyboston. Now, that pit is…