News
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 Update
Defra has published new guidance for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26), providing further detail on how this year’s offer is expected
HMRC guidance about the taxation of ecosystem services
HMRC published its long awaited technical note on the taxation treatment of income and expenditure on biodiversity net gain (BNG) units, nutrient
Statistics for business rates challenges and changes
His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Valuation Office (VO) regularly publish statistics on the number and outcomes of challenges to
Targeted BNG exemption for residential brownfield development
Hard on the heels of the recent announcement on exemptions from mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements for smaller sites – on
CIL and reserved matters approvals
It is not uncommon, particularly for larger developments, for an outline planning consent to be obtained and for details such as layout,
Changes to biodiversity net gain
In May 2025, the Government launched a consultation on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) focusing on improving exemptions, streamlining the BNG process, off-site
The strategic geography of fertilisers
For those who missed the discussion on Farming Today on 23 April, a report titled “The Strategic Geography of Fertilisers: Implications for
Ecological survey calendar
The majority of developments, apart from some minor householder projects, require an ecological survey of some kind. Many ecological surveys are seasonally
Agricultural landlord and tenant code of practice for Wales
Following the publication of the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England in April 2024, on which we reported here,
Business rates
As we mentioned here, the 2026 business rates revaluation took effect on 1 April 2026. The new rateable values have now been
Planning committee reform
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is currently consulting on its proposed planning committee reforms under The Planning and Infrastructure
CIL and temporary dwellings
A recent appeal decision from the world of The Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (the CIL Regulations) highlights what can be unforeseen