Promising start to 2025 for the Property Market but challenges persist
MARKET UPDATE Promising start to 2025 for the Property Market but challenges persist As we welcome 2025, Lambert & Foster report a record number of
Lambert & Foster continue their sponsorship of the Paddock Wood Half Marathon
Now in its 33rd year it has become one of the most successful races not just in Kent, but in the South East!
37 years on, Lambert & Foster are ready to sell Lovehurst Manor Farm again!
37 years on, Lambert & Foster are ready to sell Lovehurst Manor Farm again! Lambert & Foster is celebrating 125 years of excellence in 2025.
Celebrating 125 Years
Celebrating 125 Years: Lambert & Foster Marks a Century and a Quarter of Service in the south east Property professionals Lambert & Foster are proud to announce
Christmas & New Year
View our Christmas & New Year opening times. This year we are proudly donating to the Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre in Tunbridge Wells instead of sending out Christmas Cards.
Telecom Mast Leases – worth a review?
Telecom Mast Leases – worth a review? In recent years there has been a lot of negative press when it comes to telecom masts, and
25th Sept – East Kent Ploughing Match
The East Kent Ploughing Match is an annual event that has been running for nearly 80 years. We would be delighted if you can join us for refreshments and the opportunity to meet the team to talk about your property and planning needs.
21st Sept – Weald of Kent Ploughing Match
We would be delighted if you can join us in our marquee from 9.00am for BBQ delights and tasty refreshments. Take the opportunity to meet the team and talk to us about your property and planning needs.
18th Sept – Laughton & District Ploughing Match
We would be delighted if you can join us for refreshments and the opportunity to meet the team to talk about your property and planning needs.
New homes at Sissinghurst
Lambert & Foster are delighted to be working with Fernham Homes again following the successful sale of new homes on their Matfield site. This development of 19 new homes in Sissinghurst Kent is beautifully designed…
Rural England Prosperity Fund
Grants for diversification projects remain available for rural businesses.
Having previously reported the availability of grants under the Rural England Prosperity Fund, we provide an update from each Local Authority still welcoming grant applications.
Sustainable Farming Incentive – Update
Expected this summer, the new Actions will include ‘creation’ Actions supporting the creation of habitats, but also more ‘maintenance’ actions to pay farmers already maintaining existing habitats. Other Actions will incentivise the use of precision farming technology to reduce costly pesticide and fertiliser use. There is more detail to come, but DEFRA have announced the following ‘High Priority for 2024’ Actions.
Byrne v Harwood-Delgado: Invalid s.21 Notice on failure to provide Gas Safety Certificate
A non-binding County Court decision but one that provides a warning to Landlords to make sure they are adhering to matters of regulatory compliance.
West Kent Rural Grants
ough the Rural England Prosperity Fund, grants of £2,000 to £24,999 are available to rural businesses that have an eligible project that will create jobs, or support communities and economic growth.
Successful sale of development land in East Sussex
Lambert & Foster have completed on the sale of a greenfield development site for 65 houses in Ninfield, East Sussex. It is pleasing to know that the funds raised from the sale of this site will go to a good charitable cause.
Tunbridge Wells Foresters Falcons
Congratulations to Tunbridge Wells Foresters Falcons at the end of another great season, and to Robbie (son of Director, Dan Page) winning player of the season!
Dispersal Sale : Beech Farm, Marden
We were delighted to be asked by John, Sheila and Andrew Adams to hold their retirement sale at Marden last week. Farm Dispersal sales are few and far between and the sale was extremely well supported by the local farming community.
Agricultural Landlord & Tenant Code of Practice for England
The Code provides guidance on the standards of behaviour expected from landlords and tenants as well as those providing professional advice in connection with agricultural tenancy matters.
Farming in Protected Landscapes
The FIPL grant scheme has been running for a little while now, supporting projects that…
Sustainable Farming Incentive – More Actions Announced
The Actions introduced in 2023 will remain available for 2024, with increased payment rates for some standards applying with immediate effect for both current and new agreement holders.
Roundwell Park, Bearstead
Exclusive new development in Bearsted. Contact the Cranbrook office for more details…
Delinked Payments – action required?
It has been well documented that BPS payments in years 2024 to 2027 will not be based on what you are farming but what you claimed in years 2020 to 2022.
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund has re-opened for applications. This year there are three grant themes:
We will be at Farm Expo 2024
We are once again pleased to be attending Farm Expo taking place at Kent Showground on 6th March.
Another hoop for landlords to jump through
With GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) governing how we all collect, process and store personal data, landlords now need to go online and register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Improving Farm Productivity Grant – Now Open
There are two themes to the Improving Farm Productivity grant (part of the Farming Investment Fund) for which funding is available…
BNG dates now released, but the size and type of your development will determine what is applicable and when…
From 12 February 2024, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) becomes mandatory for new planning applications related to major developments governed by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, with some confirmed exemptions.
Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Grants – Wealden and Rother District Councils
We have previously reported on the allocation of funding from Central Government to Local Government for grants to support rural businesses. Wealden and Rother District Councils have now opened their grant scheme and are inviting applications for projects from rural businesses that will create jobs, increase productivity and adopt new technology.
Agricultural Transition Plan Update
Defra have today published an update on the Agricultural Transition Plan, outlining changes that will take affect during the course of 2024.
What are your property investment plans for 2024?
Are you looking to purchase more rental properties, or invest in existing to drive returns? Or are you looking to consolidate and potentially sell property due to ongoing legislative uncertainty?
Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Grants
Ashford Borough Council have now launched their grant scheme, with three separate funding streams…
Innovation Grant Funding
Innovation Grant Funding A grant fund administered by a Growing Kent and Medway consortium, led by NIAB, is available to fund projects for the development
Winter is upon us
Our Property Managers are busy making sure the properties we manage under our Fully Managed service are in good order with all routine maintenance up to date.
Sustainable Farming Incentive
The L&F team are busy preparing SFI applications for a range of farm sizes and farming systems. Whilst for some farms the SFI Actions are easily incorporated, for others it will mean more significant changes to farming operations.
Supporting local food banks this Christmas
This year we are supporting various local food banks around the south east in place of sending Christmas cards.
Wadhurst Late Night Shopping – 1st December
We are delighted to be supporting this year’s late night shopping event in Wadhurst. Join us for refreshments and take part in our raffle in aid of Carillon Cottage.
The English Woodland Creation Offer – grant funding available for planting trees on your land
The English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) is a scheme run by the Forestry Commission where landowners can apply for grant funding to support the creation of new woodland areas on their land.
Sustainable Farming Incentive and Delinked Basic Payments Update
To submit an SFI application you no longer need to make an initial expression of interest. The application window is open and in our experience over the past few weeks the RPA are turning around applications and awarding agreements within a number of days.
Section 21 “no fault” evictions will remain
The Government has confirmed that changes to the current system for repossessing properties “will not take place until we judge sufficient progress has been made to improve the courts.” It continues: “That means we will not proceed with the abolition of section 21, until reforms to the justice system are in place.”
SFI – Expression of interest process
We are now well underway with preparing and submitting SFI applications for clients. There is an expression of interest process to go through, which enables you to then submit an application.
Slurry Infrastructure Grant – Round 2
Grants of between £25,000 and £250,000 are available to improve your slurry storage to go beyond legal minimums. The grant is available to help replace, build additional, expand or cover existing slurry stores to reach the grant storage requirements.
Farm Machinery Sale Success!
We were delighted for our vendors that the machinery dispersal sale, held at Church Farm, Herstmonceux, resulted in an excellent outcome, with a virtual 100% clearance of the items on offer.
Balaclava Inn – Wadhurst
An impressive collection of six bespoke one
and two bedroom apartments located close to
the heart of Wadhurst village in the hamlet of
Cousley Wood within The High Weald Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty in a semi-rural location,
with wonderful views of the open countryside.
