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For over 38 years, Hugh Townsend has been the country's "go-to" commentator on farm quotas and intangible assets sold off-farm. 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.In 2016, BBC1 interviewed Hugh Townsend on the future of farming following the Referendum, click here. In 2021 he published the first book of its type “the UK Environmental Credits User Guide” , and more recently in 2024 ITV filmed at one of our BNG Habitat Banks which was broadcast on Monday 3rd June (click here) To view the uncut footage of the interview click here
Hugh Townsend developed the most creative arrangements to promote an efficient market in farm quotas, in the early eighties, including leasing milk quota without land, before the Milk Marketing Board introduced leasing for a part of the milk year. He has represented clients in leading court and arbitration cases successfully defending transfers of milk quota, and developed the new system of second TQ1 forms protecting the transfer of quotas with land.
In 1991, Farmers Weekly published the first sale price index from Hugh Townsend, countrywide, and started to publish farm quota sales and leasing graphs, which can be seen on our Milk Quota & Entitlements pages. Prices for intangible assets are still published weekly from this UK leading Brokerage House.
On BBC television, he has defended dairy farmers who have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals in the farm quota market, and was again on television to comment on the "footballers buy milk quota" rumpus.
In 1990, the firm held the first auction of sheep and beef quota making the market in these new intangible assets and is still the leading BPS entitlement broker in the UK regions following England abolishing their scheme in 2023.
The firm also now sells Biodiversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality units, Woodland and Peatland Carbon, in addition to Water Abstraction Licenses, and holds National Sales by tender every six weeks.
19.12.2025 – Nature Restoration Fund: Supporting Natural Capital Markets
The Planning and Infrastructure Act received Royal Assent yesterday, ushering in a new chapter as to how developers can meet their environmental responsibilities. The most immediate impact will be on Nutrient Neutrality for developments within certain sensitive catchments and this will create new opportunities for landowners to enter these ‘Nature Markets’ by providing mitigation measures. Planning and Infrastructure Act The key aspects of the Act are to: 1. Streamline the process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) …
Read More 17.12.2025 – BNG – News in from Parliament Yesterday
Hugh Townsend comments: “A lot of good news for the BNG market following announcements in Parliament on the 16th December and Royal Assent being given to the Planning and Infrastructure Act on the 18th December. 1. Certainty over exemptions applying on only up to 0.2 ha of non-brownfield sites. We await for the DEFRA modelling in 2026 as to what effect this will have on the…
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1.12.2025 – BNG – Habitat and Humans
On the 13th November an appeal of East Hertfordshire District Council’s decision to refuse outline planning permission for the erection of 7 dwellings (Application reference: 3/24/1813/OUT, Appeal reference: APP/J1915/W/25/3365544) was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate. One of the main issues was whether the proposal would provide an adequate level of Biodiversity Net Gain, and the planning inspector found that…
Read More 4.11.2025 – BNG – Who we are and what are we doing?
Hugh Townsend is a fellow of the RICS, CAAV and Institute of Arbitrators and the founder of Townsend Chartered Surveyors. The firm are traditional land agents doing everything you would expect land agents to do but also specialize in Natural Capital markets both creating units and selling them which is very much as we were with Milk Quota,…
Read More 5.12.2025 – BPS Entitlement Trading Kicks Off for 2026
The window for trading Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish BPS entitlements is now open. SCOTLAND With Scotland having the earliest closing date for entitlement transfer applications (2nd April 2026) we expect interest to pick up sharply as we approach the new year. Prices at the end of the 2025 trading window are listed below. We expect trading…
Read More 8.10.2025 – TCS Article – BNG Phasing Options – Fixed or Flexible?
Whether you are thinking about setting up a BNG habitat bank, or are in the process of doing so, phasing can be one of the most important considerations. When creating a Habitat Bank you will need to decide on what areas and number of phases you will use to roll out your habitat bank as…
Read More 11.9.25 – TCS Article – BNG Market Picks Up
We have an increasing demand for a wide range of BNG lot sizes, ranging 0.01 up to 220+ units and everything in between. As of the 10th September 2025, the average lot size we see needed is 16.043 units, and is for the following habitat type units – Bramble Scrub Ditches Line of Trees Lowland…
Read More 31.5.2025 – TCS Article – DEFRA’s Consultation
THE FUTURE BNG MARKET OUR VIEWPOINT DEFRA’s consultation on BNG, published on 28th May, may initially appear unsettling to those creating or selling units. However, the consultation is not as straightforward as it may seem at first glance. There is in fact far more good news than bad. The consultation confirms that the Government, having reviewed…
Read More 29.5.2025 – TCS Article – Latest Update on BNG – DEFRA consultation and court ruling on when BNG applies
DEFRA confirmed on the 28th May with their consultation on BNG that Labour is supporting the continuance of the BNG scheme and the introduction of NSIPs in May 2026. The consultation looks at various options which could be good news for developers if implemented. Biodiversity Gain requirement: At what point does a planning application require…
Read More 27.5.2025 – TCS Article – Natural Capital Market Update
NATURAL CAITAL MARKET UPDATE – ENVIRONMENTAL CREDITS BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN Demand for units this year has been steadily rising. With more sales being agreed, it is increasingly clear that off-site units are being purchased further afield from the development site, attracting full spatial weighting. Prices paid by developers range greatly, depending on the type of habitat mitigation…
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