









NEWS & INSIGHTS
As pioneers in the industry we are often in the news; here we list various things that may interest you – Industry Comments are topical items of relevance to many of our clients, In The News includes generic news releases that are similarly topical and interesting.
Be Inspired is our thinking intended to help thought leaders and those embarking on the rural development and diversification journey. Other news items include things that our clients and we are proud of and share them with you to help, interest and sometimes amuse.
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RURAL SOLUTIONS WELCOMES GRADUATE PLANNER, TOM SMART
We are delighted to announce our latest member of the RSL team – Graduate Planner, Tom Smart!

RURAL SOLUTIONS SECURE PLANNING PERMISSION FOR COMMERCIAL WORKSHOPS & STORAGE ON GREEN BELT SITE
Rural Solutions is delighted to announce that its commercial workshop and storage scheme at Little Stambridge Hall in Essex has recently received detailed planning approval from Rochford District Council. The site is in Green Belt and ‘very special circumstances’ had to be demonstrated in order to allow the project to pass.

KATE GIRLING BECOMES THE NEW CHAIR OF WOMEN IN PROPERTY FOR YORKSHIRE AND THE NORTH EAST
We are delighted to congratulate Kate Girling, Senior Planner here at Rural Solutions Ltd, on her new role as the 2021/22 Chair of Women in Property for the Yorkshire and the North East region.
Kate will hold the position for a full year from the 1st March 2021 and is excited to be taking an active role within Women in Property, an organisation that seeks to support, mentor and increase opportunities for women in the property and construction industries.

TEAMING UP TO OFFER REWILDING AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE CONSULTANCY BY IVAN DE KLEE, KNEPP ESTATE AND DOMINIC BUSCALL, WILD KEN HILL
We are excited to offer a new consultancy service for our client on rewilding and regenerative agriculture with two of the UK’s leading practitioners.
At Rural Solutions we are passionate about the British countryside and the opportunities it provides, and increasingly we have seen that many of our clients share this passion and increased focus on nature, and nature recovery.

NICKY WITCHELL JOINS THE RURAL SOLUTIONS ADVISORY TEAM
We are delighted to announce that Nicky Witchell joined the Rural Solutions team this week!

CONSTRUCTION NEARS COMPLETION AT ECO-HOUSE IN NIDDERDALE AONB
We are excited to share an update on the eco-house that nears completion at a rural village in the Nidderdale AONB.

A SNEAK PEEK OF THE LATEST WORKS OF ANDY GOLDSWORTHY
Here at Rural Solutions, we are lucky enough to be working on an incredibly exciting project with the internationally acclaimed sculptor, Andy Goldsworthy. More information on the project itself will follow when we are able, but for now, we wanted to share with you some of Andy’s unique and fantastic creations.

THE GROWING POPULARITY OF TREEHOUSES
As the pandemic continues and we find ourselves spending more time at home, many of us are looking to maximise the space available within our homes and looking to create new ancillary living spaces. Treehouses offer a unique opportunity to gain additional living, office, holiday or play space.

INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE RSL TEAM: NATALIE FELLOWS
We are all very excited to introduce you to the newest member of the Rural Solutions team – Natalie Fellows, Associate Director, Planning.

RURAL SOLUTIONS ARE HIRING: BUSINESS CONSULTANT – RURAL DEVELOPMENT & ENTERPRISE
Rural Solutions are seeking experienced business and development consultants to join the Advisory team to work with land and business owners to develop strategies and deliver projects which create opportunities for people to live, work and enjoy rural areas. The role will involve being part of a team delivering consultancy projects for clients seeking advice to make the best use of their land and property assets.

INDUSTRY COMMENT: JOANNE HALTON, HEAD OF PLANNING, SUMMARISES OUR CONSULTATION RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE WHITE PAPER
Following dialogue with interested clients from a variety of rural sectors, including small house builders and rural land and business owners, we have submitted our consultation response to the Government’s White Paper, Planning for the Future. The consultation seeks to gather the views of communities, landowners, developers and planning practitioners on the current planning system and the structural changes proposed by this Paper.

PLANNING NEWS: MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MHCLG) ANNOUNCE A REVIEW OF THE RULES AROUND SELF-BUILD
We are pleased to hear news that the Government plan to review the rules around self-build in order to encourage this area of development.

RURAL SOLUTIONS SERVICE LEVEL UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER
Following the recent announcement that England will be under a second ‘lockdown’ from 5th November 2020, we would like to reassure you that Rural Solutions are able to continue working under the same conditions.

RURAL HOUSING – ALL CHANGE
Housing is always a hot topic – and never more so than in the countryside. The Covid-19 pandemic has set several plates spinning – both in terms of policy reform and shifts in the rural property market. Last week, rural housing was again in the headlines as the government’s proposed algorithm for determining development levels seemed to place disproportionate growth demands on areas such as the Lake District and North Yorkshire leading to widespread criticism from rural commentators.

PROTECTION AND PROGRESS: STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE by SALLY ORMISTON
On Monday, the Prime Minster joined 65 world leaders at a UN event to commit to reversing nature loss. Mr Johnson pledged that new measures would protect at least 30 per cent of UK land for nature by 2030, up from 26 per cent. This is likely to include the creation of a new National Park or new Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), to award new protection to around 400,000 hectares of countryside.

GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES NEW CLASS E USE FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
The 1st September 2020 saw the introduction of new planning legislation which sees major changes to the system of use classes, particularly those that relate to town centre uses targeted at helping the Government achieve its policy objective to rejuvenate, and safeguard the viability and vitality of our High Streets.

THE AUTARKIC HOUSE AWARDED A HIGH COMMENDATION AT 2020 PLANNING AWARDS
We are very excited to share the news of being awarded a High Commendation at this years Planning Awards for The Autarkic House in the award for use of new technology in the planning category.

INDUSTRY COMMENT: NEW PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES
The national and planning press has been awash with articles and comments on the new government Planning White Paper for consultation.
Less focus has been on a new range of permitted development rights introduced in July 2020, which may provide many opportunities for the many rural landowners which Rural Solutions advises on a day to day basis.

WHAT NEXT FOR RURAL PLANNING? by JOANNE HALTON
The “Planning for the Future” White Paper published earlier this month represents potentially the most significant change in the planning system for decades. Whilst previous changes have sought to shift the emphasis to a more enabling and less bureaucratic approach whilst maintaining the fundamental principles of Local Plans, the White Paper acknowledges that this has repeatedly failed. Half of local planning authorities are still without an up to date Local Plan, despite previous planning reforms which have directly sought to address this.

EASING OF PLANNING RESTRICTIONS FOR CARAVAN AND HOLIDAY PARK OPERATORS AMONG COVID-19 RECOVERY PLANS
On July 14th, Rt Hon. Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government issued a Written Ministerial Statement advising that it was easing restrictions on the seasonal opening of holiday parks in England in order to aid the sector’s recovery from the impacts of closures from Covid-19.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RECENTLY PROMOTED TEAM MEMBERS
At our recent whole team meeting we were delighted to... -
EXCITING TIMES FOR FORESTRY ENGLAND CAMPSITES
Forestry England have announced that they have acquired 13 Camping... -
SHELLEY JONES CELEBRATES 10 YEARS AT RURAL SOLUTIONS
Yesterday marked the ten-year milestone of Shelley Jones joining Rural... -
KATE GIRLING PROMOTED TO ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PLANNING
We are thrilled to announce that Kate Girling has been... -
RURAL SOLUTIONS WELCOMES NEW ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PLANNING: LIZ WALKER
We are excited to announce a new member to the... -
REFLECTING ON THE PAST YEAR AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR RURAL SOLUTIONS by WILLIAM FRY
In March 2020, we held our breath. We had just... -
WELCOME TO THE TEAM: ADAM BIRKETT & GEORGINA SOUTHWELL
This week we welcomed two new additions to the planning... -
ENVIRONMENT BILL: DELIVERING A BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN
It’s now a little over a week since the Environment... -
WELCOME TO THE TEAM: ABIGAIL EGGLESTON
This week Abigail Eggleston has joined the RSL team as... -
INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE RSL TEAM: ANNA RIDEWOOD
We are delighted to announce our latest member of the...