In February, England had 170% of its average rainfall. By 10 August, 71.3% of the country was in drought. That contrast sums up the challenge facing farms and rural estates. For much of England, the issue is less how much rain falls than when it falls: the water arrives in winter and is needed […]
Three rural firms unite to support farming families at a charity raceday at Warwick Racecourse Warwick Farmers Day will bring the rural community together at Warwick Racecourse on Wednesday 11th November 2026 for an afternoon of racing and fundraising in support of The Farming Community Network (FCN). The event has been organised by Dudley Peverill […]
One of the questions we are asked most often at Dudley Peverill Associates, is whether it is better to invest in a new agricultural building or refurbish an existing one. The answer is rarely straightforward. Every farm, estate and rural business has different operational requirements, budgets and long-term objectives. What represents excellent value for one […]
The new National Planning Policy Framework landed on 17 August 2026, and if you farm, own rural land, or have a diversification project at the forefront of your mind, it is worth ten minutes of your time. This replaces the December 2024 Framework and is a material consideration in planning decisions from the day it […]
Padel is the diversification enquiry of the moment. Barely a week passes without a farm or estate asking whether a redundant grain store could become a padel club. The demand is real, the planning routes are better than most landowners expect, and the capital requirement is modest next to almost anything else you could build […]
Evolution of Planning Policy in Rural Areas Why the decision to begin, not the time available to work on it, is what separates the rural businesses that build new income streams from those that don’t.Between May and July this year, we had some great conversations with farmers and landowners.We would sit down with each of […]
Written by Corylus Planning & Environmental Ltd Evolution of Planning Policy in Rural Areas Rural England is evolving. Changes to agriculture, increasing environmental obligations, inheritance tax considerations and the drive towards net zero are all reshaping how landowners think about the future of their assets.At the same time, planning policy is becoming increasingly supportive of […]
Across the farming and estate sector, every change of government creates a wave of questions. Will planning become easier, or will we lose permitted development rights? Will housing targets increase? Will renewable energy projects be encouraged? Should we accelerate their farm diversification strategy plans, or wait for greater policy certainty? The reality is that most planning […]
Written by Ed Daniell, founder of RuralSpace. Across the rural estates and farms we work with, there’s a quiet but important shift taking place. Income is becoming less predictable. Costs are less forgiving. Assets that once sat comfortably within the business are now under closer scrutiny. The question is no longer whether to diversify, it’s […]
Rural diversification is rarely straightforward. Policy can shift between one local election and the next, and the planning system, particularly in sensitive locations, can feel as though it asks more questions every time you try to move forward. In that environment, most rural businesses know they need options. What is less widely recognised is how […]
