News - Townsend Chartered Surveyors

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.

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….

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…

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…

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…

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…

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

17.11.23 – Farmers Weekly – Biodiversity net gain – Pros and cons of different options

The requirement for developers to deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity uplift associated with their sites takes effect from January next year. This is known as biodiversity net gain (BNG) and its imminent roll out has seen a confusing range of offers made to landowners from third-party operators to deal with BNG units created on farmland….

27.10.23 – Farmers Weekly – Opinion: ‘Do it yourself’ gives best biodiversity net gain returns

As a way of replacing Basic Payment Scheme monies, selling “natural capital” in the form of biodiversity net gain (BNG) could be the most effective. While still an emerging market, along with carbon and nutrient neutrality credits, BNG has the potential to create significant money if handled correctly. There are currently a number of “off-market”…

18.10.23 – Western Morning News – Operators taking 40-95% of farmer’s BNG sale proceeds

As farmers continue to look around for ideas as to how to replace BPS (Basic Payment Scheme) payments, one of the most exciting options for farm diversification is selling ‘Natural Capital’ in the form of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units. Whilst this market is still emerging, since the end of September it gathered pace when…