What's New

The Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs has today published a first response to the winter's consultation on the Sustainable Farming Scheme. This note has more detail.

This note sets out some recent changes to Welsh agricultural tenancies legislation.

The Welsh Government is to open a “dynamic purchasing system” (DPS) service for potential direct providers of advice to register now to be able later to tender to give advice under the Welsh Government's mantle. This note has more detail.

The Planning Advisory Service has commissioned solicitors Dentons to prepare a range of template documents to streamline BNG implementation and support LPAs. This note provides more information.

Kite Consulting has issued a review of the costs of what dairying might need to do to adapt to advancing climate change, The Cost of Climate Resilience - Future Proofing UK Dairy. This note looks at the headline findings of the review.

Rachel Reeves, the new Chancellor, has followed up her speech to Treasury staff on Friday with a further statement to the Treasury today. The note below provides a summary.

The new Government has through the Treasury, DESNZ and DLUHC, this morning issued revisions to the NPPF in a new policy paper regarding onshore wind in England. The note below provides more information.

Heard by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) as the appeal court to an earlier decision by the First Tier Tribunal, this decision examines whether an operator is entitled to apply for a new Code agreement under paragraph 20 of the Electronic Communications Code where its attempts to secure a new agreement under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 have been unsuccessful.

Manchester Ship Canal Company Ltd v United Utilities Water Limited No 2 [2024] UKSC 22 This is a Supreme Court decision on a principle of potential interest to all riparian owners of water courses and bodies of water as well as to sewerage undertakers. While confirming a common law right of action for nuisance or trespass in respect of discharges of sewage but did not consider whether any particular claim would be successful....

The High Court has handed down a judgement in a judicial review claim launched by the charity River Action: R (River Action) v Environment Agency [2024] EWHC 1279 (Admin). This note reviews the case.

This Act gained Royal Assent on 24th May 2024 and makes changes in respect of long residential leases in England and Wales. This note summarises the key provisions.

This Act gained Royal Assent on 24th May 2024 and, while enacted, most of the provisions require commencement regulations before they have effect.

These Regulations set out requirements for landlords of Private Residential Tenancies to install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as summarised on the CAAV Note 11th June 2024.

HMRC has published a list of businesses fined in 2023-24 for failures to comply with Money Laundering Regulations, many of which were property related businesses in breach for not registering with HMRC. Members are reminded of the need to comply with the Regulations - see CAAV Note 9th May 2023 for an outline of the requirements. The obligation to register with HMRC or other AML requirements can be triggered by just one property transaction; so members should familiarise themselves with the...

In the rapid “wash-up” of Parliament’s business following the sudden calling of the general election, the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act was granted Royal Assent with relevance to Wales as well as England. This note reviews the position for Wales.

The Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide Alarms for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024 have been made. They come into operation for all new private tenancies from 1 September 2024 and for other private tenancies from 1st December 2024. Minimum numbers and placing of alarms are specified in the Regulations, which permit both hard-wired and battery sealed types, provided they are compliant with BS 5839-6 and BS 50292. Further guidance from the Department for Communities...

The CAAV has responded to a consultation on 'Improving the effectiveness of Money Laundering Regulations. Our response is attached here.

This Upper Tribunal decision upheld an appeal concerning agricultural exemption for the purposes of business rates for three buildings in Kent, the centre of a large egg business and servicing a number of independent producers.

While the Finance Act introduced the measures immediately required for the Budget, the Finance No.2 Act 2024, given Royal Assent on the last day of the outgoing Parliament, is now published and enacts some further changes. This note provides a brief overview.

This note contains a report of the CAAV's business in 2023

The CAAV gives notice to its members of the AGM on 28th June at 3.30pm following the close of its National Conference at the Hilton, St George’s Park, Burton on Trent. Please see below for the Notice of the AGM with its agenda and also the Report and Accounts for 2023 being presented to the meeting. Details of the National Conference and associated events are on this link with the booking form. Joining the AGM itself on-line can be booked on this link....

HM Treasury are running this consultation, with responses due by 9th June 2024, focussing on four core themes on improving the effectiveness of Money Laundering Regulations:Making customer due diligence more proportionate and effective;Strengthening system coordination;Providing clarity on scope of the Money Laundering Regulations;Reforming registration requirements for the Trust Registration Service. In tandem with the above mentioned consultation, HM Treasury are running a survey to better...

Following the introduction of the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill to the Senedd last year (see CAAV Note 28th July 2023), the Welsh Government has published two further consultations on proposed subordinate legislation:The pre-application consultation requirements as part of the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill and methods for engaging stakeholders and local communities. Responses to this consultation are to be submitted by 22nd July 2024.Fees to be charged, with it being intended that the consenting...

A recent decision in the High Court (Natural England v Cooper (Rev1) [2024] EWHC 625 (KB) (03 April 2024) contains an interesting review of Natural England’s powers of enforcement in carrying out their various regulatory functions. This note reviews the case.

Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader and Shadow Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary, has now said more on Labour's new towns policy when speaking on 21st May to the UKREiiF conference. This note looks at some key points from the speech.

The Government announced for England on Friday 24th May: an extension of the Farming Recovery Fundthe bringing forward of this year’s second payment of the delinked payment to September from December. This note has more detail.

The papers for the Council meeting held on 21st May 2024 are attached.

The CAAV Council of 21st May approved revisions to the CAAV’s Bylaws for membership, conduct, and complaints and disciplinary procedures. As well as updating, rewording and housekeeping, the substantive changes are: to provide a more formal structure for handling applications for readmission to membership to recognise the range of misconduct that could bring the Association into disrepute to require members to notify the CAAV immediately of any criminal conviction (other than a summary...

DEFRA has published a series of sector leaflets, grouping the 102 actions of the expanded SFI offer that are to be available later in the year by theme. The leaflets, and an SFI Checklist, are available here.