Rural Outlook | 2023

It turns out that announcements on farm and environmental policy are like London buses - you wait for ages and then three come along at once.

Inflation peaked at 11% and we've had eight successive interest rate increases since January 2022, taking the current Bank of England base rate to 4% (at the time of writing).

Legacy development focuses on preserving and enhancing the natural environment for future generations. It is an increasingly popular approach to creating sustainable, livable communities that benefit the people within them and the surrounding environment.

Is your land suitable for Industrial and Logistics Development? If you are planning to use a parcel of land for industrial or logistics development, our checklist can be a great starting point.

By guest contributor, Susan Twining, CLA - The development of natural capital markets for environmental benefits has unlocked investment interest and funding opportunities for landowners. Farmers and land managers are facing major changes in agriculture policy.

The last year has seen a major spike in global grain prices – exacerbated, but not solely caused - by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Regenerative Agriculture is capturing headlines and attracting attention – but few agree on exactly what is involved. In a paper published by Bidwells earlier this year, we attempt to define the concept – and find a lot of good old-fashioned husbandry at its heart.

The UK government might lift restrictions on onshore wind projects in England, which currently act as a ban on these developments. This brings huge opportunities for landowners. In this article, we talk you through where to start.

Rural property is often held by institutional investors to diversify a wider portfolio. It has typically been seen as a haven during times of economic uncertainty and so, with the prospect of a year-long recession looming over the UK, rural property has its part to play for investors.

Over the past 12 months, land values have increased, despite the economic and political turmoil. It is clear the farmland market is continuing along its own path, with extraordinary demand for agricultural and rural property seen across the region.

Whether you’re a developer looking to meet biodiversity net gain requirements or a landowner looking to make use of land with no development potential, natural capital investment provides a plethora of opportunities.