Bateman-North Chartered Surveys, Valuer and Land Agents

Bateman-North is a young and dynamic firm of Chartered Surveyors and Property Professionals covering the South West of England. With 20 years of combined professional experience and a wealth of practical knowledge we are able to provide a range of professional advice on property related matters.

We specialise in providing advice on rural land based schemes, property disposal, purchase and valuation. We pride ourselves on our knowledge and understanding of the rural economy and rural policy which we combine with our practical experience of property, farming, conservation, land management and rural business.

Bateman-North was established in 2011 by Kevin Bateman and James North who had worked in the Surveying and Farming profession in the South West of England for a number of years.

In addition to Surveying Kevin and James farm over 500 acres and pride themselves by ‘practicing what they advocate’.

Rural Payments Agency -What’s new for 2012?

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has produced a 2012 edition of ‘The Guide to Cross Compliance in England’ which can be viewed on the RPA website.

From the 1st of January 2012 a new Cross Compliance Regulation, ‘GAEC 19’ came into force in England and whilst farmers located with a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) should already be compliant under Statutory Management Requirement 4, GAEC 19 means farmers from outside designated NVZ areas will need to comply in order to avoid penalties.

The new regulation is intended to prevent water pollution and specifies the following:

Inorganic fertiliser must not be applied within 2 metres of surface waters
Organic manure must not be applied within 10 metres of surface waters – with the exception of land managed for breeding wader birds, or as species rich semi-natural grassland and under certain other restrictions
Organic manure must not be applied within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole

Where organic manure is applied a map must be produced and kept of the holding showing:

All surface waters on the holding and land within 10 metres of them
All springs, wells and boreholes on your holding and within 50 metres of the boundary of the holding and land within 50 metres of them

The inspection process
With effect from 1st January 2012 the RPA has taken over Competent Control Authority responsibility from the Environment Agency. The RPA will now select and carry out inspections for Groundwater (SMR 2), Sewage Sludge (SMR 3), Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (SMR 4) and Water Abstraction (GAEC 18).

Should you require any further information or assistance completing documentation relating to the above then please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Bateman, James North or Charlotte Furnival.

The NFU’s new Tenants’ Service which includes a dedicated hotline number (0870 300 0288 - www.nfuonline.com) was launched on 10th November 2011 at their National Tenants’ conference held at Harper Adams University College, Shropshire. The panel, made up of expert rural surveyors, has been created by the NFU to deliver advice and guidance for tenant farmers. The NFU panel consists of firms that the NFU can recommend to their members to provide assistance and guidance in relation to complex matters. Members of the NFU can benefit from a 12.5% discount on all core agricultural work including:

Succession
Rent Review
Rent Arbitration
Notices to Quit, Repair or Remedy
End of tenancy compensation
Agricultural Holding Act (AHA) tenancies and Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs)
Contract farming agreements
Tenant representation on compulsory purchase, compensation, wayleaves and easements.

Bateman-North Chartered Surveyors, Valuers & Land Agents (formally Bateman Associates) has provided rural surveying services to farming clients for a number of years throughout the south west and are delighted to announce they have been appointed as an NFU panel firm for the south west region. With offices at Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol and Exeter they have sufficient geographical coverage to service the needs of farmers along the M5 corridor. Bateman-North look forward to working with the NFU in the years ahead, particularly during what is going to be a busy period with the impending reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy.