Rural news, information and intelligence can be found at the touch of a button thanks to a new app being launched – which also proves the value of team away-days!

Leading rural property consultants and chartered surveyors, Fisher German, has embraced modern technology and created an app that is now available for download.

Developed over the past year, it is filled with useful advice, information and tools of a rural nature all in one place.

The idea for the application, which is available to download for free for both Apple and Android phones, came about thanks to an idea by members of the Fisher German rural team.

Mike Reynolds, associate partner at the firm, said: “We were on a rural away and we had to pitch ideas in a Dragon’s Den style competition.

“The team I was in came up with the idea of the app and it won. For the past year we have been developing and fine-tuning it with the help of Loughborough based company Cuttlefish."

“Cuttlefish have a great deal of experience in the building of apps of varying descriptions and being local to the Ashby office who have led the development, they were an excellent fit to be our partner in this new and exciting venture.”

The app itself features news feeds from Fisher German and other news outlets, alongside an events calendar reporting significant rural dates and events and weather reports based on the user’s location.

There is practical agricultural commodities data and a functional currency converter and alongside that a weights and measures converter.

Useful details regarding Fisher German such as PDF’s of its rural publications including the Fisher German magazine, Agri-View and Agri-Facts along with the locations of our offices and colleague directory are also available.

To add to that, there is an interactive map with a hybrid function showing both the road network and a satellite view of the terrain which also has the locations of our offices marked on.

There is a function where users can subscribe to email updates and push notifications on up and coming events and important dates.

“We are extremely pleased with how it has turned out and it is very much a one-stop-shop for information within the rural sector,” added Mike.

“We are not resting on our laurels, we have many plans for the app in the future and will hopefully be including more down the line.”

Downloading the app is really easy, just go to app store and search for Fisher German Rural App. 

Our Development Surveyors continue to work closely with housebuilders and land promoters as, despite recent political developments, there appears to be little or no slowdown with respect to demand for residential housing.

Over the past twelve months, the Fisher German National Planning and Development team has disposed of land in excess of &80 million in value, capable of delivering over 1,400 dwellings.  Across our planning teams, we also have an enviable success rate equating to 97% of all applications made being approved.

Our Strategic Planning team in the last year has obtained planning permissions for over 700 dwellings and we are currently advising on strategic development land capable of delivering more than 25,000 dwellings.

These successes have led to the expansion of the services we provide to landowners, promoters and housebuilders.  We have seen a sharp rise in development monitoring commissions whereby our Building Consultancy team, acting on behalf of financial institutions, both values and monitors the progress and quality of new build residential developments.  Furthermore, the Building Consultancy team are currently in discussions with a national housebuilder with respect to resolving site/build issues for high value properties located in the South East of England.

We very much feel that the ever increasing variety and quantum of work has resulted from our independent position and the quality of the services provided.

Canon Pyon, Herefordshire 

A very fine 6 bed country house and 47 acre organic fruit farm in a beautiful setting with exceptional views

Adstone, Northamptonshire

A superb opportunity to convert a rural barn with wonderful views set in 15.56 acres

Middleton by Youlgrave, Derbyshire

An elegant early 19th Century 8 bed country house with apartment and outbuildings in an unspoilt location - 31.41 acres

Kingston Blount, Oxfordshire

A stunning 5 bed period home, bursting with original features with impressive grounds set within a 0.43 acres plot. 

Ipstones, Staffordshire

An historic country house and wonderful restoration project with beautiful grounds of about 77.5 acres

For further information contact:

Stuart Flint on 07501 720422 or email here

Alasdair Dunne on 07501 720412 or email here

Visit us on Facebook here

Historically there has always been cross party support in respect of the HS2 scheme.  Despite different political stances, the main parties have given their support to the scheme.  There is no reason to doubt this stance will continue following the election outcome and new Government.

Fisher German is acting on behalf of a large number of clients affected to varying degrees by along the entire length of the HS2 scheme.

It is understood that the Phase 2a Hybrid Bill will be published this summer.  Informing the Hybrid Bill will be the Formal Environmental Statement, which includes the various community area reports together with the map books; all of which we had with the Working Draft Environmental Statement last September.

Following publish of the Hybrid Bill there will be the opportunity to petition Parliament.  This process should not however preclude discussions with HS2 Ltd.  It is in all parties’ interests to continue dialogue in order to reach a beneficial outcome.

It is envisaged that the Parliamentary process will take approximately one and a half years.  Enactment of the Hybrid Bill for Phase 2a is expected by the end of 2019.  Due to this phase of the scheme being expedited in order to open one year after Phase One, construction is likely to start in early 2020.

During this time, it is important to continue discussions with HS2 Ltd.

On Phase 2a we as a firm, are representing a range of clients, we can assist with the Petitioning process and have already achieved successful outcomes regarding the service of blight notices. We have also successfully made Representation to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).

We have valuable experience in dealing with the HS2 Need to Sell Scheme and are in dialogue with HS2 Limited where clients are unable to move but are significantly impacted by the proposed scheme.

For help and advice regarding HS2 Phase 2a and other compensation matters please contact Liz Farrall at our Stafford office on 01785 275392 (Ext: 3292) or 07918677575 or you can email her here