Diversification and grants

Many land owners are looking to diversify by using their redundant farm buildings. Chesterton Humberts is expert in recommending the best alternative use of these buildings: for example as farm shops, holiday cottages or craft workshops.

The team is also able to provide advice and access grants where available.

Rural business consultancy

The diverse nature of land ownership and occupation, along with the effects of outside influences such European legislation and the current farming climate, needs both practical and professional knowledge of today’s fast-changing rural environment.

Chesterton Humberts has a dedicated team of trained professionals who specialise in all aspects of rural land consultancy and can specifically advise on the following schemes:

• Farm Business Advice service (with Business Link)
• Rural Property Database service
• Diversification grants
• Environmental Stewardship
• Rural commercial projects
• Milk Quota and SPS entitlement sales
• Single Payment Scheme and appeals
• Health & Safety
• Compulsory acquisitions and compensation work
• Arbitration
• Expert witness

Environmental services

Our environmental consultancy was set up to guide clients through the growing number of rules and regulations resulting from European legislation.

Over the next few years, it is expected that the agricultural industry will be regulated in line with existing commercial operations; during this transition the Chesterton Humberts team will also be able to offer professional and specialist advice to its clients.

The team provides clients with advice on the following areas in addition to existing agri-enviromental schemes and funding:

• Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
• Pollution, prevention and control regulations (BATNEEC)
• Environmental assessment and monitoring
• Water and effluent management
• Waste management

Compulsory purchase and compensation

It is inevitable that land owners and occupiers will be affected in some way by one of the compulsory purchase schemes relating to the increasing need for new roads and motorways and pipelines and cables linked to the expanding communications network.

Working with local authorities, land owners and occupiers, Chesterton Humberts has comprehensive knowledge of both compulsory purchase cases and legislation. We have formed close liaisons with planners, developers and engineers in order to minimise the impact of compulsory purchase to landowners. We will deal with formal objections, compensation payments, blight and disturbance and will identify any possible windfall benefits.

In most cases the fees for this advice are funded by the acquiring authorities.