Fisher German Newsletter Autumn 2018

Fisher German Newsletter Autumn 2018




Degree Apprenticeships

Fisher German has been part of the Surveying Trailblazer Group which has worked on the new standards for degree level apprenticeships. Initially there was no mention of the rural pathway but the group’s efforts have now secured its inclusion. Our involvement in this Surveying Trailblazer Group is at the heart of Fisher German’s ethos of encouraging individuals from diverse backgrounds into what is an interesting, varied and rewarding profession. We understand that not everyone learns in the same way or wants to attend university. We also believe that the cost of a degree should not be a barrier to having a great career and to that end, we fully support of the apprenticeship scheme.

Apprenticeship Course

In addition to being part of the Surveying Trailblazer Group, we have also worked with Harper Adams in the development of a Rural Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship course. Typically undertaken over five years, the apprentice will work in the business and then attend Harper Adams around every eighth week for a weekly teaching session. This enables the apprentice to put their learning to practical application from their very first days at work. On completion of the course, successful apprentices will achieve a BSc(Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management, whilst being paid and not incurring any university fees.

Blazing the trail already...

We are delighted to announce that Jemima Cooke (pictured) has joined us as an apprentice surveyor in our Stafford Office. She will be working at Fisher German and then spending weekly blocks at Harper Adams during her apprenticeship. We also have James Clempner in the Knutsford team who has embarked on a commercial surveying apprenticeship.

If you would like to find out more about a degree level apprenticeship in surveying, please contact Maria Hawley

To find out more about Rural Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeships, take a look at the Harper Adams website here
 



Online Auctions

 
Our online auctions are proving very successful. Our first sales on the new platform have been incredibly successful and our clients have been very happy with the process and the results.

The most recent sale saw a small parcel of land with a guide price of &20,000 sell for &58,500 in some exciting live bidding! Click here to view on youtube. 

Visit our website here to see how it works and for more information, our online auctions brochure is available here 
 



Agriculture Bill

David Kinnersley advises that farm businesses will require more strategic advice in the coming years after the Agriculture Bill was introduced to Parliament.

Click here to read Agriculture Bill.



Farm Diversification 

One enterprising farm is expanding to include a gas generator scheme - proving that there are still opportunities for those looking to diversify. 

Click here to read Farm Diversification .



Commercial Growth

A new partner has been appointed at the Doncaster office to strengthen the regional commercial team.
 

Click here to read Commercial Growth.



Planning Changes

The revised NPPF was published on 24 July. We look at some of the changes which have been made. 
 

Assessing housing need
Under the old NPPF, in preparing their local plans, Local Planning Authorities (LPA) were required to objectively assess their full housing need however, there was no one set way of calculating the number of houses required. This inevitably led to disagreements between the LPA and developers on the number of homes which should be delivered which would inevitably lead to delays in Plan making and costs where this was challenged at appeal. The revised NPPF, introduces a standardised methodology. This is aimed at reducing the disagreement, albeit local authorities can depart from the standard method provided that there are 'exceptional circumstances' that can justify an alternative approach.


Delivery
The NPPF is unashamedly about the delivery of homes. The requirement on Councils to maintain a five-year supply of deliverable housing land remains and has been supplemented by additional ways of monitoring progress. The five-year supply seeks to forecast what will be built and the new “Housing Delivery Test” looks at what has actually been delivered. In recognition of a historic failure to deliver enough new homes the new housing delivery test will consider how the number of new homes delivered over the previous three years compares with the housing requirement. This includes a requirement for an LPA to produce an action plan where delivery has fallen below specific thresholds and potential for the presumption in favour of sustainable development to apply. This new test will again bring with it the benefit of being definitive. It is hoped that it will put pressure on Councils to make sure that sites truly are deliverable.


Delivering a supply of homes
The new NPPF brings is an attempt to deliver a greater variety of new homes. The government has specified that at least 10% of an LPA's housing requirement identified through the development plan should be on sites of one hectare or less.
The new NPPF interestingly places the current national approach of not seeking affordable housing on small residential developments on a stronger footing. The national approach to setting thresholds for affordable housing provision now applies to sites of 9 dwellings or less, which are also less than 0.5 hectares in area, other than in designated rural areas.
An interesting new provision is for entry-level exception sites suitable for first-time buyers or those looking to rent their first home. LPAs should support the development of such sites, which should be located on the edge of an existing settlement, proportionate in size, and genuinely required.
Simon Warner, associate director at Fisher German, said “Whilst we wait for the dust to settle on the new NPPF, the Government is hoping even a small number of extra homes arising from each of the changes will add to a significant increase in supply and be a start of the revolution. The changes will assist greatly from the delivery of sites, particularly for a number of our clients”. If you have any queries on the impact of the new NPPF please do not hesitate to contact Fisher German’s planning teams.



Agrifacts

Agrifacts has had a facelift. Take a look at the most recent edition.
 

Click here to read Agrifacts.



Machinery Auctions

The on site auction remains an effective way to dispose of farm machinery.
 

Click here to read Machinery Auctions.



In the Spotlight ...

There is a wide range of case studies on our new website showcasing work across our six sectors.

Click here to read In the Spotlight ....



GIS & Mapping

Our team provide a comprehensive range of geo-spatial services.
 

Click here to read GIS & Mapping.



Sustainable Energy

Read the latest edition of our sustainable energy facts newsletter.
 
 

Click here to read Sustainable Energy.



Job Opportunities

Would you like to join our team? Have a look at our latest job opportunities.
 
 

Click here to read Job Opportunities.