Brabners Chaffe Street has launched a new unit to deal with concerns about the changing shape of Britain’s rural economy.
The setting-up of the nine-strong Agricultural Team follows a significant increase in the volume of the work from farmers and land owners worried about falling sales and greater regulation.
The team consolidates existing expertise from different departments within two of Brabners Chaffe Street’s three regional offices. Property partner Rupert Jackson will head the unit’s work out of Liverpool while property associate Helen Ryan will lead work done by the firm’s Preston staff.
Brabners Chaffe Street has established a reputation for handling both contentious and non-contentious rural issues, including environmental law, development, tourism, estate planning and employment.
But Mr Jackson said the growth in the number of enquiries caused in particular by economic pressures and the Agricultural Waste Regulations had prompted the decision to create the specialist unit.
“We are seeing a lot more instances of farmers looking to sell and landowners concerned about the potential cost of complying with the Waste Regulations. Because we’re constantly trying to find ways of improving our offer to clients, we felt it made sense to set-up a unit which would be able to provide a range of relevant services.�
In addition, Brabners Chaffe Street has organised a series of free seminars to offer face-to-face advice. As well as hearing from the firm’s own specialists, the sessions will be addressed by Andrew Penton, who is a Principal Agricultural Officer at The Environment Agency, and leading property consultants Smiths Gore.