Acorn Rural Property Consultants

06/03/2025

PLANNING PERMISSION SECURED FOR EXMOOR RURAL HEALTH HUB

Acorn Rural Property Consultants is delighted to announce that we have secured planning permission on behalf of the Exmoor Rural Health Hub (ERHH) for the construction of a new, permanent health and wellbeing hub at Cutcombe Market, Wheddon Cross.

The new facility will replace an existing temporary cabin, which has limited space and has served the ERHH since 2021. The approval marks an important step forward to delivering a permanent facility that will offer physical health screenings and mental and well-being support for Exmoor’s rural and farming communities in an accessible location.

Acorn Rural Property Consultants is proud to have secured this planning permission. We look forward to seeing the development completed and the positive impact it will have on the local community.

Acorn Rural Property Consultants has secured planning permission for a new, permanent health and wellbeing hub.

06/03/2025

MDDC CALL FOR SITES - FINAL WEEK SUBMISSION

Time is running out! Mid Devon District Council’s call for sites closes on 14 March 2025. This is a key opportunity for landowners, developers, and community groups to put forward land for potential development.

Mid Devon District Council’s call for sites closes on 14 March 2025

04/03/2025

END OF RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDS

The government has announced plans to abolish leasehold and replace it with commonhold, introducing a comprehensive new legal framework to transform property ownership.

Click the link below to read our full article on this:

Government plans to abolish leasehold and introduce commonhold, marking a significant shift in property ownership with a new legal framework.

27/02/2025

UPDATE OF THE CAPITAL GRANT SCHEME

Defra has secured funding for the Capital Grants scheme, allowing 4,040 on-hold applications to be processed. While the reopening date for new applications is yet to be confirmed, spending caps will be introduced to ensure fair access for smaller farms and high-priority projects.

To read our full article on this, please click the link below:

Defra has secured funding for the Capital Grants scheme, allowing 4,040 on-hold applications to be processed.

21/02/2025

LOCAL NATURE RECOVERY STRATEGIES AND OFF-SITE BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) holds the same legal weight as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), reinforcing its significance in decision-making. The latest PPG updates, published on 19 February 2025, focus on Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs)—a legal requirement under the Environment Act 2021. These strategies will shape local plans and influence biodiversity net gain (BNG) by identifying key areas for habitat creation and restoration. Over time, LNRSs may direct off-site BNG towards designated areas, impacting land use opportunities.

Read more about the updates here:

Local Nature Recovery Strategies guide LPAs in shaping local plans to enhance the natural environment and contribute to nature recovery.

20/02/2025

LAND USE FRAMEWORK

Defra has opened a consultation on a national land use framework, aiming to guide decisions on housing, infrastructure, and environmental targets. With plans to change land use across 1.6 million hectares, including 760,000 hectares removed from agriculture, this could have significant impacts on farmers and landowners. The focus is on less productive land and designated landscapes, but concerns remain about fairness and the scale of change. The consultation runs until 25 April 2025—we encourage all those affected to have their say.

To read our full article click the link below:

Defra's land use framework consultation will shape future land use decisions. Have your say before 25 April 2025

13/02/2025

HABIT MAPPING BY SATELLITE

Natural England has launched "Living England," a Defra-funded project using AI and satellite imagery to create a detailed habitat map across England. This innovative tool provides up-to-date data to support land management decisions, Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessments, and Environmental Land Management schemes. As well as aiding planning and decision-making, it is expected to play a role in compliance and regulation, ensuring that public funding for habitat creation and modification is effectively monitored.

Click the link below to read our full article:

Hard on the heels of the launch of the consultation on a land use framework for England, which we discussed here, is a press release this week about the use by Natural England of satellite images and machine learning AI to build a detailed map showing the current extent of habitats across the countr...

31/01/2025

LAND USE FRAMEWORK

The upcoming consultation on a national land use framework is set to spark a crucial “national conversation” on balancing food security, climate action, and nature recovery with development needs. With strong political momentum and backing from key organisations, the framework could become a vital geospatial tool for land management—or a restrictive policy limiting landowner flexibility. This consultation will be key for anyone involved in land ownership and management.

To read our full article, please click the link below:

For some years, policy makers have been calling for an overarching land use framework and asking themselves how can a land use framework best address food security, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature recovery challenges within England’s finite land area. A House of Lords committee under...

24/01/2025

SIGNIFICANT PLANNING APPLICATION FEE INCREASES PROPOSED IN ENGLAND

From 1 April 2025, significant planning fee increases are proposed by the Government, subject to parliamentary approval. These include higher fees for householder applications, Section 73 variations, prior approvals under permitted development rights, and Biodiversity Gain Plans. Transitional provisions mean current fees will apply to applications submitted before this date. Applicants are encouraged to plan ahead to take advantage of current rates before the changes come into effect.

To read our full article on this, please click the link below:
https://acornrpc.co.uk/significant-planning-application-fee-increases-proposed-in-england/

23/01/2025

COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP HIGHER TIER

Preview guidance on the updated Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme, opening summer 2025, outlines key improvements, including flexible land management actions, quarterly payments, and a streamlined online application process. Initially invitation-only, the scheme prioritizes those with expiring agreements or approved plans.

If you would like to read our full article, please click the link below:

The updated Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme, opening summer 2025, highlights improved flexibility, quarterly payments, and an online application process.

22/01/2025

SOMERSET COUNCIL LAUNCES CALL FOR SITES

Somerset Council has launched a Call for Sites which runs from 13 January until 24 February. This is a key step in gathering information to help decide which sites might be considered for development in future consultations as the Council prepares its first local plan.

If you'd like to read our full article on this, click the link below:

Somerset Council’s Call for Sites runs, inviting landowners, developers, and site promoters to submit land for potential future development.

21/01/2025

TEMPORARY AGRICULTURAL WORKER ACCOMODATION AND CIL

Is temporary accommodation for agricultural workers during lambing and calving a dwelling liable for CIL? A recent appeal examined this question, with the LPA arguing the facilities met the criteria of a residential dwelling, while the appellant contended they were ancillary to the building’s agricultural use and subject to strict seasonal restrictions. The appointed person dismissed the appeal, concluding the facilities lacked the permanence required to constitute a dwelling under CIL regulations.

To read our full article on this, please click the link below:

Examining a CIL appeal: Is temporary accommodation for seasonal agricultural workers a liable dwelling?