Rural Management
Planning Consent for CS Capital Grant Items
Certain Capital Gant items require evidence of communication with the LPA / EA / Highways when making a Claim. These include the laying of new concrete (RP15), up-grading farm tracks that connect to a registered road (RP4), the installation of inspection pits (RP14), laying underground piping (RP13) and water recycling tanks (RP18). Whilst being able to demonstrate evidence of communication with the planners tends not to be straightforward, RPA should accept reference to The General Permitted Development Order PART 6 for replacing cracked concrete and for laying new concrete up to 1,500 sq,m. Likewise, not claiming for the last few meters of a farm track against a road, avoids having to seek Highways consent. Formal planning consent is required where Permitted Development is not appropriate and should satisfy all required consents pertaining to a capital claim.​​​
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General Permitted Development Order
BNG Calculations
Virtually all farm developments are required to demonstrate a biodiversity net gain of at least 10% over the pre-development scenario. Anyone with sufficient competence can carry out the BNG assessment, although high value habitats will require an Ecologist. The BNG enhancement should aim to be created onsite i.e. within red line boundary of the planning application. If this is not possible, then a suitable offsite area will need to be found and will need to be registered with the LPA.
The two main calculation tools are the Small Site Metric for development sites less than 1 ha, and the Statutory Site Metric for larger and higher ecological sites. The SSM is simpler to use and requires less ecology ability. The BNG metric calculation would normally be submitted with the planning application alongside a Biodiversity Gain Plan that summarises the conclusions of the BNG Metric. Separate plans should also show the location of the assessed habitats, and the location of where the new BNG area is to be created. The Architect may decide to show the respective BNG areas on the main drawings instead.
it is important to note that a BNG assessment may be required to accompany a planning application to lay concrete under the Capital Grant Scheme, although the Planning Authority Ecologist should apply appropriate discretion for vacant areas with a scattering of weeds. A de minimise exemption can be claimed for development that does not affect priority habitat and is less than 25 sq.m. or less than 5 metres of 'linear habitat'.
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BNG Metric Tools
Biodiversity Gain Plan template
Carbon and Natural Capital
The natural capital approach provides a way to measure and value public and private goods from land. It includes the amount of renewable and non-renewable resources (such as plants, animals, air, water, soils, minerals) that combine to provide a flow of benefits to people and the environment. Wider commercial businesses are increasingly keen to offset their carbon emissions by investing in environmental assets on farm. To capitalise on this opportunity, farmers need to:
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Understand the link between natural capital and farm productivity
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Assess the long-run sustainability of farming practices
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Quantify the current private benefits to the farm and public benefits to others from well-managed farmland
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Highlight potential future benefits of looking after natural assets (and the risk from not doing so).
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Farmers with net positive carbon can sell surplus carbon sink capacity through carbon credits, with a current market value of over £100/ha. It is important, however, that the business' carbon performance is properly calculated by a recognised professional body before committing to a contractual agreement.​​
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​England Woodland Creation Grant provides up to £10,200/ha plus supplements to create new woodland on areas of at least 1 ha. Closing date: 5th April 2025.
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Creating Regional Woodland is for land that is within the catchment of one of the 13 local Community Forests across the country.
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Planning woodland - provides up to £30,500 funding to prepare a Woodland Creation Design Plan that complies with the UK Forestry Standard.
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Protecting Tree Health provides up to 80% of felling costs/m3 and up to 40% of infrastructure costs, for ash dieback; diseased larch, spruce and sweet chestnut; oak processionary moth; and restocking trees.
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CS Woodland Tree Health grant pays towards restoring woodland after tree health problems, and includes 19 capital items to choose from.
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​The WCaG scheme aims to help accelerate the planting of new woodlands and develop a domestic market for woodland carbon for the permanent removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
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The scheme provides farmers with the opportunity to to sell Woodland Carbon Credits (WCUs) to the government for an agreed guaranteed price that is index-linked for the life of the 35-year contract. Because carbon credits have a registered value for 100 years, they can be sold on the open market at any time during the 35-year agreement for a higher price than that received from the government. Applicants need to comply with the Woodland Carbon Code, which provides verification of standards required to access the carbon market.
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The guarenteed price of an applicant's carbon dioxide removal is agreed via an online reverse auction run by the Forestry Commission. Typical carbon sequestrated over the growing life of a woodland is 8 to 10 t CO2/ha/yr, primarily depending on tree mix and intended management, although little carbon is captured during the first 5 to 10 years of establishment. Auction prices are currently around £20/t CO2.
Woodland Grants
Woodland Carbon Guarentee (WCaG) Scheme
Landlord Communication Policies - Contractors/Tenants
As Landlords have overall responsibility for H&S on their business premises, a Health & Safety (H&S) Communication Policy is designed to protect against the negligent actions of others, such as business tenants, contractors and occasional visitors e.g. farm shoots. The Policy simply confirms a third party’s legal responsibilities to themselves, their employees, farm personnel, other site users, the general public and the Landlord. The Policy is not complicated but specific to the activities of the respective individual/business, and in the event of an incident occurring provides formal written evidence that the Landlord has met their legal obligation to communicate effectively on H&S matters with relevant third parties.​
Health & Safety Policies
Where there are 5 or more employees (including part-time/casual, family members, volunteer staff, Company Directors and salaried Partners) farmers are legally required to formulise a written H&S Policy and record risk assessments for significant work hazards.
MHAB service provision:​
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Action Plan
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Employers ‘Statement of Intent’, Appointed persons
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Employee responsibilities
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Current business ‘Arrangements’
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H&S Audit of business activities
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Risk assessments for significant work hazards, including:
Use of equipment and machinery
Transport and vehicle management
Maintenance tasks
COSHH
Fire
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Emergency Action Plan and Contact Numbers
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Safe Systems of Work
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Training Records, and Inspections
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Communication Policies (as required), e.g.:
Business tenants
Agric./Building Contractors
Farm shoots
Residential neighbours (letter) – e.g. children
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Environmental Pollution Risk Assessment and Action Plan
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Waste Management
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RIDDOR – reporting accidents
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HSE - Farmwise booklet​