After several years of development and a 2019 manifesto commitment for England’s residential let sector, the Government has finally introduced the Renters (Reform) Bill into Parliament, saying it could be law by the end of the year. Even so, it has held over several items for later legislation, and full implementation might take some time. So what changes are ahead, and what do they mean for landlords and tenants in future? Rebecca Collins, technical and policy adviser at the CAAV, takes us through the detail.

The Government has just issued its response to the Rock Review, the report of the Tenancy Working Group which was established in January 2022 to consider farm tenants’ access to environmental schemes and markets in England. The group made 74 recommendations to Defra, and the Government’s 95-page response has now been issued. Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the CAAV, sets out the key points, and considers what they mean for the tenanted sector and natural capital markets in the coming years.

In this episode, we take a detailed look at nature markets – a topic that has dominated farming and environmental headlines in recent years. This developing area has the potential to both generate an income for land managers, to mitigate the impact of climate change, and improve our natural environment. But as with any embryonic market, it’s a complex area, so Richard Sanders, technical and policy adviser at the CAAV, joins us to offer a bit of clarity.  

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in daily life, and when it comes to work, generative technologies – those which create images and text – could be incredibly useful. There’s been a lot in the news recently about ChatGPT, and it tends to divide opinion – there are those who are worried it will take their jobs and ultimately threaten humanity, and there are others who merrily use it in their day-to-day work to save time on mundane jobs. So who’s right? Richard Sanders, technical and policy adviser at the CAAV, helps unravel this emotive topic.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his first Budget – and while there was not a huge amount in there for the farming industry, there are potentially significant changes afoot. That’s because he announced a review of how environmental land management will be treated from a taxation perspective, the potential to limit agricultural property relief on let land, and a big push on encouraging investment. Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the CAAV, picks out the detail and explores the longer-term implications on the rural sector.

The Government has at last revealed its long-awaited response to the mandatory biodiversity net gain consultation from January last year. While the concept has been in the pipeline since the 2019 Spring Statement, voluntary trading has been going on for some time. But now, the requirements will be laid down in law – from November 2023, all developers will have to deliver a 10% net gain in biodiversity, to offset the environmental damage they cause. As with any new legislation, there’s a lot of detail to unpick, so Richard Saunders, technical and policy adviser at the CAAV, explains what it all means.

Defra has finally announced further details about the future environmental schemes in England, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery. These include a plethora of new land management options to mix and match, as well as higher payment rates to encourage farmers to apply. Jeremy Moody explores what these enhanced initiatives and payments mean for farmers, while also considering the decision-making process for optimal financial success. Given that these environmental payments will not replace the loss of Basic Payments for most producers, what is the most profitable way forward?

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused enormous upheaval in global energy markets. We are now facing conflicting demands – on the one hand, the nation is seeking to bolster security of supply, while also capping energy costs. On the other, the Government has committed to increasing renewable energy in a bid to reach net zero, all while demand continues to soar. Given the ageing state of the National Grid, Rebecca Collins examines what this all means for rural residents and landowners.

After four months of political uncertainty and an equal number of cabinet reshuffles, the Government wheels are again starting to turn. The backlog of policy is beginning to come through, with Defra secretary Therese Coffey unveiling plans for the new environmental schemes at the CLA conference. Against a background of the fourth financial statement in as many months, Jeremy Moody discusses the economic outlook for farmers and rural businesses.

Devolution has come to fore in recent years, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic and the level of control each part of the United Kingdom has over agricultural and environmental policy. As such, Jeremy Moody takes this opportunity to provide a practical overview of devolution and the different policies being developed in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.