Latest news from Fisher German

Second World War Hangar

The old airfield at Hooton lies in what was the grounds and parkland of Hooton Hall built by the wealthy Liverpool banker RC Naylor 1814 to 1899 whose decedents still own the land and remainder of the Estate.

The Park was first used as a landing strip in the early days of aviation before the First World War and during the conflict airmen from the RFC were stationed at Hooton Hall before it was demolished in 1935.

World War 2 saw the creation of a proper concrete runway the remains of which we now see in place although only a relatively short section remains in Estate ownership having been purchased back from the Air Ministry along with the aircraft hangar in the early 1960’s when the remaining airfield was sold to Vauxhall to create what is now the Ellesmere port car plant.

The site was also used as a site for the Cheshire Agricultural Show for some years during the 1960’s before the move to Tatton and latterly Tabley.

610 Spitfire Squadron was stationed at Hooton during the WW2 and also flew the Meteor, Britain’s first jet fighter, shortly afterwards (see photo). Indeed the 610 Squadron association still have an office at the runway housing an assortment of memorabilia.

In addition the old runway and parking area 2.5 acres have been used for a variety of uses including driver training and ad hoc event parking, etc. Merseyside Police also have a base there as a specialist training facility.

While the remaining agricultural land is let to one of the estate tenants for arable cropping, the Northern part of the Park has been transformed into a Kart racing track run by Modus Motorsport who constructed a high grade tarmac track there in 2006 from where national and corporate events are run.

However the main Estate asset comprises the WW2 Hangar which remains in good condition having been re-roofed in 1995. Over the years it has been let to a number of storage and distribution companies and the present tenants, A M Transport, are in occupation until 2018.

Security is of key importance to both the Landowner and the various occupants, and an access compound was installed by the owners in 2008 which thus far has successfully prevented any unauthorised access or trespass into the runway area.

Over the last 30 years or so the various uses of the old parkland and runway have evolved and will continue to adapt to the changing requirements of the various occupants to produce income for the owners with the additional potential for further alternative uses (eg site for an anaerobic digestion plant) kept under review.

Julian Mellis, Rural Consultant is the land manager for this estate julian.mellis@fishergerman.co.uk

Development opportunities for you

Fisher German is well placed in the north west region to provide clients with comprehensive town planning and building surveying advice.

We are currently advising clients who wish to progress development opportunities for their land and buildings on a range of schemes across Cheshire, the Wirral, Staffordshire and North Wales.

Central to the planning system is the role of Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans in determining where development will take place. Each local planning authority should produce a Local Plan for its area, which sets out the opportunities for development and clear policies on what will or will not be permitted and where.

Communities, whether a parish or town council, forum or community organisation, have the option to prepare Neighbourhood Plans. These plans can also set policies to determine planning decisions, but must be in general conformity with any strategic policies in a Local Plan (such as housing and employment land requirements, or areas of protection).

It is important to understand if and when a development proposal is best progressed through a speculative planning application and/or as a site promotion thorough an emerging Local Plan.

Across the north west there are numerous opportunities available to promote sites through local plans and neighbourhood plans. Fisher German can advise landowners and prospective developers on opportunities to submit sites and influence emerging policies.

In Cheshire West and Chester, the Council is currently consulting on their ‘Part Two’ Local Plan which sets out small site allocations across the area’s towns and villages.

There is an opportunity now to promote sites within or on the edges of these settlements and Fisher German can advise on how to engage with this process. Consultation closes on 23 September.

There are ‘call for sites’ opportunities open in other areas at present. The Greater Manchester authorities are preparing a joint plan to manage the supply of land across their region and are asking landowners to identify sites for these uses. Cheshire East Council is also inviting site submissions across their towns and villages, which will feed into their ‘Part Two’ Local Plan early next year. Finally, Lichfield Council is consulting on the key issues for their ‘Part 2’ Local Plan Allocations document until 10 October; this includes an opportunity to submit sites for development.

These consultations, along with the neighborhood planning progress in many parishes, presents opportunities for landowners to consider if and how development proposals can be progressed. If you wish to discuss what opportunities are available for your sites, then please contact our north west regional planner Ian Stevens on 01244 409668 or email ian.stevens@fishergerman.co.uk

HS2 may impact on you

We have recently concluded the last of the Farm Impact Assessment Interviews with a large number of our Clients and are now awaiting the Farm packs from HS2 Ltd.

This agreement has improved terms and more beneficial payments than the standard HS2 Ltd early access agreement. The agreements are for a two year term; this is so that when the Phase One Hybrid Bill is enacted (expected at the end of this year) then although HS2 Ltd will have the power of survey, our Clients will still be covered by this agreement.”

Liz goes on to say that the information collected from the farm impact assessment interviews and surveys will be fed into the Environmental Statement, which in turn will form part of the documentation submitted into Parliament as part of the proposed HS2 Phase 2a Hybrid Bill. “We are expecting a draft Environmental Statement during the Autumn of this year and the Phase 2a Hybrid Bill to be deposited into Parliament during 2017.”

As part of the work for the Hybrid Bill, Representatives of HS2 Ltd are now starting to send out Land Interest Questionnaires to those affected by Phase 2a. Liz informs that If you need any assistance with these then please do contact her. “Our understanding is that HS2 Ltd will pay for up to two hours of our time providing assistance to clients with completion of these questionnaires.”

A route announcement is expected in respect to the remainder of the Phase 2 route this Autumn. This is the portion of the HS2 scheme from Crewe to Manchester (Western leg) and Birmingham to Leeds (Eastern leg). Now is the time to make preparations to minimise the impact of the scheme on your business. The work being undertaken for Phase 2a is much the same as that undertaken for Phase One of HS2; and the same tasks will no doubt need to be carried out in preparation for the building of the remainder of the Phase 2 route.

Liz Farrall at the Stafford office says, “We are being contacted more and more by those whose properties and lives are impacted by the HS2 scheme; those who need to minimise the impact of the scheme on their businesses, as well as those who for example are outside of the safeguarded are and can’t sell their properties due to the HS2 scheme”. If you require advice and assistance in regard to HS2 or other compensation matters, then please contact Liz Farrall at the Stafford office on 01785 275392/07918 677575, liz.farrall@fishergerman.co.uk.

Fisher German are a leading national firm with a strong local presence. Our local team have the expertise to provide the best possible service for our Clients; with both the resource and skill base available from across our fifteen offices.

Make the best of all opportunities

I have been a rural land agent for over 9 years and have seen a lot of changes in that time, especially in regard to diversification. In many sectors both commercial and agricultural my clients are looking to get the full potential out of their property.

Farmers and land owners often have unused buildings, land and yard areas which have potential for alternative uses, but they do not have the vision that some prospective tenants can see.

A case study which I came across just over 12 months ago on an Estate, I currently manage, is a good example. A small building which had previously been used for storage by the Estate joiner, had become too small for their needs.

I put it on the open market with a “To Let” board and was pleasantly surprised by the interest received. One possible tenant stood out and this was a teacher who approached me to see if the Estate would let him invest in the property and change it into a small brewery, where he would make his own Real Ale.

This was an option that neither the Estate owner nor myself had thought of but due to its location the tenant thought it was ideal. During this time the tenant has become part of the Estate and I believe is well known for testing his trial samples out on other Estate tenants, thereby making himself very popular.

Rock the Boat Brewery, has become a great success and he has now taken on an apprentice. This shows how a small empty stone building can be utilised and brought back to life.

If you believe you may have a building or an area land that is currently not in use or not making its best potential, please do not hesitate in contacting Becky Woodrow on 01244 409 672. becky.woodrow@fishergerman.co.uk

Alternative land use

In recent years I have received an increasing level of instructions to undertake agricultural land grade assessments from firms seeking to invest in proposals that involve taking commercial farm land out of production.

Until the latter part of the Summer in 2015, these reports were often in respect of investors seeking sites suitable for solar parks; generally around 25 acres in size, or 5MW in capacity.

However, since the Government’s reduction in Feed in Tariffs (FITs) and removal of Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) earlier this year, the investment market for solar parks appears to have slowed. Conversely we have seen increasing interest in an alternative proposal: Battery Storage Sites.

Battery Storage uses industrial scale battery technology to provide power to the national Grid at times of peak demand. During periods of excess supply to the grid these batteries store energy until such time as there is a demand above current supply, at which point electricity is fed back into the grid to fill that gap. The aim of the investors in such projects is to buy the electricity at a low cost and sell it back to the grid at a higher rate in peak demand. The technology has existed for many years, but has only recently been developed and manufactured on a scale that makes the proposal commercially viable.

A Battery Storage site requires similar physical needs to a solar park:

close proximity to a grid connection (ideally an electricity substation or possibly a 33kV overhead line);
ideally low quality brownfield land, however agricultural land can be utilised where it is not of the highest grade must be screened as much as possible from residential dwellings and public rights of way (minimum 400m from nearest dwelling)
Good access
Flat land / limited gradient

However, sites generally occupy a much smaller area (circa 1-3 acres). Existing agricultural buildings can sometimes be utilised if unoccupied or a developer might construct a new building to house the storage facility (energy barn).

If you were previously in discussions with developers for potential solar parks which have now been put on hold or even aborted, a Battery Storage Site may be a viable alternative. Please get in touch today to see if this less intensive land use opportunity may be an option for you.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Rob Browne in Stafford,01785 220044 email rob.browne@fishergerman.co.uk

matthew.burton@fishergerman.co.uk Knutsford 01565 757970

Or in Chester 01244 409660, rachel.kirk@fishergerman.co.uk

A career in chartered surveying

As I embark on my career as a chartered surveyor, I would like to explain the process that allows me to obtain MRICS status

To become a RICS chartered Surveyor (MRICS) a great deal of hard work and dedication is required. As with any career there are a number of hurdles along the way, these can be broken down into three steps.

Step 1 Passing an RICS accredited degree

An individual must pass an RICS accredited course. The majority of rural surveyors attend one of two institutions: Harper Adams University or The Royal Agricultural University. Hopefully at the end of three years of mostly hard work the student will graduate with an RICS accredited degree

Step 2 Getting a Graduate Job and undertaking a period of structured training

The Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) is the process that is required to become a charter member of the RICS. It involves a minimum of two years structured training, gaining practical experience in a range of competencies. The candidate must keep a diary of the experience gained, undertake a minimum of 48 hours’ Continual Professional Development (CPD) per year and complete a paper submission comprising of a case study and experience record.

Step 3 Passing the APC final interview

Once a candidate has gained the required experience they can then be put forward to final interview in front of a panel of three assessors. The interview typically lasts for an hour and is broken down as follows:

A ten-minute presentation from the candidate on their chosen case study, followed by ten minutes of questioning on the presentation
Thirty minutes of questioning in relation to their experience gained over the structured training period
Ten minutes of questioning on RICS ethics.

The three assessors then confer and decide if the candidate is sufficiently experienced and either pass or refer the candidate.

I am now nearing the end of my training, and hoping to pass my interview in October of this year.

If you are interested in a career Chartered Surveying, please get in touch with one of our Regional offices for further information.

Chester 01244 409660

Knutsford 01565 757970

Stafford 01785 2200044