What's New

The Welsh Government has confirmed that the vast majority of Cross Compliance for 2022 will continue to apply for 2023, with some amendments to Factsheets and associated sections of the Verifiable Standards which have been updated for 2023 to reflect changes in requirements, good practice and to clarify wording. See the Welsh Government website for more detail.

NB – This note replaces the note of 25th September 2022 to take account of the November Financial Statement, LTT changes in Wales and the Scottish Budget. The cumulative effect of this autumn’s Financial Statements, the Scottish Budget and the Welsh decision on LTT has been to widen difference in the taxation: of income between the rest of the UK and Scotlandof land transactions between England and Northern Ireland with SDLT and Wales and Scotland with their own taxes. Capital taxes,...

The Scottish Budget for 2023–24 was outlined to the Scottish Parliament yesterday, including changes to devolved taxes (for more detail, see the Scottish Budget 2023–24). This note reviews the proposals....

Ahead of the application window for Round 3 of the Farming Futures Research and Development Fund, DEFRA has published the guidance for the scheme. This note provides more detail.

Thérèse Coffey, DEFRA Secretary of State, answered questions across her portfolio from the Commons Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee on 6th December. She was joined by DEFRA’s Permanent Secretary, Tamara Finkelstein. This note looks at some comments from the session.

This note reviews a recent speech on domestic and international environmental matters by Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey.

The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 6th December 2022. Part 2 of the Act deals with provisions that are to make changes to the Electronic Communications Code, including: introduction of ADR for disputes;operators to be required to have complaints handling procedures;the statutory valuation for lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Act and the Business Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 to be altered to see the "no...

In a further announcement on planning policy in England following that on housing development, the government has responded to a backbench amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill by moving policy on on-shore wind in England. This note provides some more context.

The Government has announced a series of changes to development control policy in England to be made “alongside” the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. This note looks at the proposals.

An update on the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

A new Planning Portal for Northern Ireland has gone live from 5th December. This note provides more information.

DEFRA has added more detail to the guidance for the SFI Animal Health and Welfare Review. This note provides an update. For more background on the Review, see our introductory webnote of 30th March.

The new DEFRA Secretary of State, Thérèse Coffey, yesterday (1st December) used a speech to a CLA Conference to outline the outcome of the review by new ministers of the delivery of the Agricultural Transition Plan. This note provides a summary.

An update on several issues affecting the livestock sector in the UK.

Natural England has published its Nutrient Neutrality Generic Guidance. This document sets out in detail the approach to be taken to assess, mitigate and offset the risk of nutrient runoff from development impacting protected natural areas. DEFRA have also released an update to the progress of the Nutrient Mitigation Scheme and related amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Some background is provided in this website note....

DEFRA has announced the opening of the New Entrant Support Scheme. This note provides some background.

The implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 will see new agreements, standards and requirements needing to be met for new and existing let property. This note provides an overview of resources available to CAAV Members, as well as outlining consideration for the conversion of existing agreements.

For use to convert periodic agreements to occupation contracts, this model agreement has been based on the Welsh Government model agreement. Valuers should read the Guidance on converting an existing agreement published by the Welsh Government prior to using this template.

For use to convert fixed term agreements to occupation contracts, this model agreement has been based on the Welsh Government model agreement. Valuers should read the Guidance on converting an existing agreement published by the Welsh Government prior to using this template.

BEIS has launched an innovation programme to support the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to address the challenge of decarbonisation. This note provides a brief overview.

The Commons Environmental Audit Committee issued a report in May on carbon and sustainability of construction. This note provides an overview of the Government response to the report.

This note looks at an announcement from Thérèse Coffey at the COP27 meeting, about the Big Nature Impact Fund.

DEFRA has today (17th November) issued guidance online about setting up, amending and ending conservation covenants. This note reviews the measures.

This note reviews some of the changes to Business Rates announced in the 17th November Financial Statement.

This note reviews the impact of changes to CGT announced in the 17th November Financial Statement.

A note reviewing some of the financial and yield pressures on the UK's high-value output sectors.

This note sets out the process for withdrawing a Lump Sum Exit Scheme application.

This note summarises the Autumn Financial Statement.

This note provides an overview to the process of preparing and making use of a natural capital report. It builds on our previous background note on natural capital, and the work of the CAAV's Natural Capital Working Group.

Under a new policy and market focus, land managers face a spread of challenges and opportunities, including demanding environmental targets, goals for carbon reduction and biodiversity improvements. Government and private schemes increasingly focus on environmental outcomes:The environmental land management suite of schemes in England;Sustainable Land Management in Wales;biodiversity and sustainability conditionality in Scotland. This requires advisers to have a familiarity with the language...

This note provides an update on the market for fertiliser

The implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 will see new agreements, standards and requirements needing to be met for new and existing let property. This note provides an overview of the key actions and dates that members should be aware of and replaces the earlier note of 8th August 2022.

The checklist below is aide memoire to assist members meet the statutory requirements for occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.

Natural Resources Wales has announced a new round of applications for Peatland Development Grant. This note provides a brief overview.

These Regulations include transitional provisions for agreements that are due to convert on 1st December 2022 to occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. They include provisions that allow any rent determination process or possession procedure under the Housing Act 1988 that commenced prior to 1st December 2022 to continue.

These Regulations make amendments to a variety of legislation, seeing occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 brought in scope when the 2016 Act takes effect on 1st December 2022. As an example, the Housing Act 2014 is amended such that the requirements for landlord and agent registration and licencing will apply to occupation contracts.

The Environment Agency has issued a warning to prepare for flooding this winter. This note provides more detail, and links to useful early-warning resources.