News
Hugh Townsend has for 25 years been the country's "go-to" commentator on farm quotas and rural surveying issues affecting farmers. Having become the country's leading and most innovative quota agent he was broadcast to 3.8 million listeners on Radio 4's PM programme interviewed by Eddie Mayer on the 1st April 2015 – the Dawning of Europe without Milk Quotas, click here. More recently BBC1 interviewed Hugh Townsend on the future of farming following the Referendum, click here.
Hugh Townsend has over the years developed the most creative arrangements to promote an efficient market in farm quotas, in the early eighties developing leasing milk quota without land before the Milk Marketing Board introduced leasing for a part of the milk year.
He represented clients in leading legal cases defending transfers of milk quota and developed the new system of second TQ1 forms protecting the transfer of quotas with land.
In 1991, with Farmers Weekly he produced the first sale price index countrywide and started to publish farm quota sales and leasing graphs which are still published by Farmers Weekly and other publications and can be seen on our Milk Quota & Entitlements pages.
On BBC television he has defended dairy farmers who have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous inpiduals in the farm quota market and was again on television to comment on the "footballers buy milk quota" rumpus.
He regularly writes for Farmers Guardian and the South West's Western Morning News and our experienced team is sought after for their comments on farm quotas.
23.1.2024 – DELINKAGE AND ENTITLEMENT TRADING 2024 NOW UNDERWAY
The Delinkage and Entitlement market is underway with more vendors and purchasers needed. For information on what’s available/wanted or to go on our register contact Henry Chamberlain on 01392 823935 or email entitlements@townsendcharteredsurveyors.co.uk ENGLAND – DELINKAGE: 2024-2027 Delinkage Payments As long as you claimed BPS in the reference period of 2020, 2021 and 2022, you…
Read More 16.1.2024 – BNG – SOME FURTHER MUSINGS
Whilst it is important to remember that BNG guidance is both in draft and also in some cases only a suggestion on implementation, it is tempting to try and read between the lines to see the potential ways that the BNG process might be implemented. These interpretations should be viewed with caution as much of it…
Read More 11.1.2024 – BNG – CLEARING THE FOG OF DRAFT GUIDANCE
As we all try and peer through the BNG fog of swirling draft guidance and statutory instruments ever being updated and amended without notice, to see how the mandatory BNG process will be implemented, so often one query answered creates more. These observations should be viewed with caution as only some of the landscape starts…
Read More 11.1.2024 – EARN A 1% INTRODUCTORY COMMISSION FOR INTRODUCING YOUR DEVELOPERS/PURCHASERS TO OUR BNG UNITS
Notice to all agents (surveyors, planning consultants, professional advisers including ecologists, architects, planning solicitors & barristers). Earn a 1% introductory commission for introducing developers to a selection of our clients’ BNG units. The units if sold to your clients, which will entitle you to receive the introductory commission, are all the units shown on the…
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6.12.2023 – Western Morning News – Another step closer for BNG?
The devil is always in the detail, and this so often only comes at the 11th hour. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is no exception with the mandatory BNG marketplace now in a different place to where it was only a few weeks ago. As one query is answered another two appear in its place. 1….
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7.12.2023 – Farmers Weekly – Legislation brings biodiversity net gain regime a step closer
The legislative framework for biodiversity net gain (BNG) is finally being introduced, in six statutory instruments which will become law when BNG goes live in January 2024. This includes outlining the legal basis for calculating biodiversity value for BNG. In a change from the process originally set out, developers will be able to submit a…
Read More 4.12.23 – BNG – DRAFT LEGISLATION ANSWERS SOME QUESTIONS BUT LEAVES OTHERS UNANSWERED
Last week saw a flurry of activity on the path to mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain with the framework of agreements becoming clearer and implementation processes clarified. Secondary legislation has been released in the form of six statutory instruments applying powers fashioned under the Environment Act 2021 creating the means of implementing the Act’s objectives through…
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1.12.23 – BNG – LEGAL FRAMEWORK SET OUT FOR BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN – FARMERS WEEKLY
The fuzzy picture for the mandatory BNG market is slowly becoming clearer. One of the most common questions I am asked, with the regulations coming into force in January, is how buying and selling BNG units will work in practice. See my comments in Farmers Weekly, online last week here. Also watch this space for our…
Read More 30.11.23 – BNG – SECONDARY LEGISLATION PUBLISHED – FIRST COURT RULING ON BNG ISSUES AFFECTING THE VOLUNTARY MARKET
We now have 6 Statutory Instruments, 4 in draft and 2 to go to parliament today. – The Biodiversity Gain Site Register Regulations 2023 – The Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Exemptions) Regulations 2023 – The Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Irreplaceable Habitat) Regulations 2023 – The Biodiversity Gain (Town and Country Planning) (Modifications and Amendments) (England) Regulations 2024…
Read More 29.11.23 – BNG & NN UPDATE – BNG UNITS IN THE MANDATORY MARKET NOT NEEDED UNTIL AFTER PLANNING PERMISSION IS GRANTED – AUTUMN STATEMENT SUPPORT FOR NN OPEN MARKET
The devil is always in the detail, and this so often only comes at the 11th hour. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is no exception with the mandatory BNG marketplace now in a different place to where it was only a few weeks ago. As one query is answered another two appear in its place. 1. …
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