Public consultation announced for Killearn beauty spot Finnich Glen

Rob Whitson is to join Bell Ingram as Partner and will take responsibility for running the company’s offices in Inverness and Bonar Bridge.

Rob, who was formally with Strutt & Parker in Inverness where he headed their Rural Department, will lead on Bell Ingram’s estate management and professional work in the north of Scotland.

Graham Lumby, Managing Partner at Bell Ingram, said: “Land reform legislation, Brexit, and many other issues affecting the rural economy are continuing to challenge anyone with an interest or involvement in land or estate management. Having experienced professionals who can provide expert advice and be readily accessible in the locality is essential.”

The appointment of Rob Whitson means that our clients have a senior and highly skilled professional to support them during these challenging times.”

Since moving to Inverness, the former army officer has had extensive experience in Highland estate management, including deer and fisheries management, and brings with him expertise in valuations, renewables and forestry.

Rob said: “My background in surveying and the military has equipped me with a whole host of transferrable skills that I’m looking forward to applying to my work at Bell Ingram. I hope I can give clients the support required to optimise their rural businesses in the north of Scotland.

“Bell Ingram is a highly trusted and respected firm of land and property agents. It gives a national service which is delivered locally, so they’re very aware of the localised issues in their area.

“Our industry faces a varied and broad spectrum of political and economic issues such as land reform and Brexit. The role of the land agent is also changing as people’s expectations change, so we have to adapt and continue to provide a first-class service to clients.”

Bell Ingram is also advancing its operations in different parts of the country with two further appointments.

Andrew Fuller joins the Oban office as an Associate Estate Agent following almost 15 years managing high-level private and corporate development projects in the United Arab Emirates.

With substantial experience in property management and investment, Andrew is now focused on making the Oban office the premium rural Estate Agency in the Western Isles and wider mainland region.

Andrew said: “The range of expertise that Bell Ingram provides and the variety of sectors that it covers is remarkable so I’m looking forward to applying myself to a company that encompasses a great many of my key interests.

“Working in Oban is never dull. The west coast is a buoyant market, and despite Brexit approaching, the mind patterns of buyers have not changed. People aren’t holding back when it comes to island properties, especially with the increasingly popular buy-to-let property market and the rise of services such as Airbnb. My commute from the Isle of Mull to Oban alone makes it all worth it. With stunning scenery and ever-changing conditions – there really is no place like it.”

Thomas Rust also joins the expanding company as an Assistant Land Agent after graduating with a degree in Rural Business Management from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) earlier this year.

His interest in land management was realised during his time working in the forestry sector in the North East of Scotland.

Thomas said: “What draws me to rural land management is the opportunity to work outside and the wide scope of things you get to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

“From agriculture and forestry to renewables and pipeline management, the variety of work is exciting, and it is fulfilling to be in a position of being able to provide valuable professional advice to landowners. I’m excited to put my head down, learn from the experienced colleagues around me and develop my skills.”

An introduction to deer farming – Two demonstration days planned

The demonstration days will provide the opportunity to hear at first hand from professionals and experts in deer farming, on subjects including herd management and stocking, fencing and equipment requirements, finance and land management.

The Perthshire day, for which bookings are now being accepted, takes place at the village hall, Kinloch Rannoch and at Innerhadden Deer Farm.  Speakers in the morning will include Malcolm Taylor of Bell Ingram, Alan Sneddon and John Fletcher of VAS, and Richard Barclay of Innerhadden.  There will be a guided visit to the Innerhadden deer farm in the afternoon.

In addition to the demo days and to encourage engagement with farmers, VAS will be joining Bell Ingram on their stand at the RHS on Thursday 21 June, GWCT Game Fair on Friday 29 June and Moy Game Fair on Friday 3 August.  Everyone is welcome to come along and ask any questions they may have, whilst enjoying some refreshments.

Dick Playfair, Director, The Venison Advisory Service Ltd, says:

“With New Zealand prioritising other markets in Europe and elsewhere over the UK as well as having reduced its herd size, albeit this is now being rebuilt, there is a real opportunity for UK producers to get their foot even more firmly in the door.

“Coupled with this, and following Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing’s venison summit earlier this year, a strategic plan is currently being prepared for all Scottish Venison which will fit with Scotland Food and Drink’s Ambition 2030.  These are exciting times for the venison sector and we are pleased to be teaming up with Bell Ingram to spread the word.”

Malcolm Taylor, Partner, Bell Ingram, says:

“We are delighted to be involved with the Venison Advisory Service and to help promote deer farming in Scotland, especially at such an opportune time for the sector. Deer farming provides a real opportunity for new entrants and existing farmers who are looking to diversify and offers an alternative use for upland farms. As agents for the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, we are also looking forward to seeing if we can assist with financing for new deer farms.”

Places for the Introduction to Deer Farming day at Kinloch Rannoch are limited and are available on a ‘first come’ basis. To book a place contact Charlotte Gilfillan at Bell Ingram, Tel: 01307 462516

E: charlotte.gilfillan@bellingram.co.uk

More about Bell-Ingram here: www.bellingram.co.uk

More about the Venison Advisory Service here:  www.venisonadvisory.co.uk

Latest information from the Scottish Venison Partnership about the UK venison market here: http://www.scottish-venison.info/index.php?page=venison-market-update

Legislation Update – Landlords & Private Water Supplies

There are now new requirements for landlords with properties served by a private water supply.

The Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 apply to all private water supplies to premises used for a commercial or public activity (including tenanted properties) or any supply serving more than 50 people.

The regulations require all supplies to have an annual water sample and a Risk Assessment carried out on the supply once every 5 years.

Landlords or their agents will need to arrange to have the water sampled and a Risk Assessment completed by the Local Authority.

The Scottish Government has made available a new information resource for users and owners of private water supplies.  This new information is available through mygov.scot, the Scottish Government’s online information platform https://www.mygov.scot/housing-local-services/water-supplies-sewerage/private-water-supplies/

Scottish property market not all doom and gloom says Head of Estate Agency Carl Warden

Despite challenging times in the Scottish property market, a leading expert maintains that the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Carl Warden, Senior Associate at leading land and estate agent Bell Ingram, believes that there are good signs for the market despite difficulties which have constrained certain sectors.

2017 saw the strongest residential market in a decade while house prices in Scotland are expected to grow by 17% over the next five years, up three percent on projections for the rest of the UK.

Carl said: “Last year was really strong for the market, with more than 100,000 transactions.

“Although the bulk of these transactions were for properties under £200,000, the strongest growth in activity was above the £400,000 mark, with a 23% annual increase.

“The new build sector is preforming well, largely driven by the lack of second-hand properties available and the incentives offered by developers.

“We recently brought to market eight luxury apartments within a B-listed baronial mansion in Oban and all eight apartments were reserved within 48 hours.”

Despite the positives, Carl is warning that Land and Buildings Transactions Tax (LBTT) is supressing the market.

The Tax, which replaced Stamp Duty back in 2015, is paid on transactions of land within Scotland.

Carl added: “The Government is more focused on getting people onto the housing market than relieving pressure at the top end.

“New rental taxation, laws and leases are attempting to release housing stock back to the market but rents are increasing to recoup the loss.

“In short, the policy is supporting the lower end of the market but making things harder at the top.”

Land expert advises caution before entering a contract farming agreement

A leading land expert is warning farmers to beware of the potential pitfalls when entering a contract farming agreement.

Malcolm Taylor of Bell Ingram Land and Estate Agency warns that despite being seen as a positive way to maximise flexibility for the farmer or land owner, those looking to enter an agreement with contractors must do so with careful consideration.

Most commonly used on arable units, farmers will benefit from such an agreement as they are guaranteed to obtain a first payment out of the contracting account whilst keeping an active role in the farm.

Some may also be drawn to the potential for retaining subsidy payments while the contractor will also reap the benefits from economies of scale, a contracting and management fee and prospects of a profit from the divisible surplus share – if there is one.

However, many of these shared farming agreements are partnerships, with all of the difficulties and complications that often go alongside these types of business arrangements.

Malcolm, Partner, based at the Bell Ingram Forfar office and immediate past chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said: “Anybody contemplating a contracting arrangement should consider why they are doing it carefully.

“It is all very well retaining the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and a first charge on the contracting account, but the question arises as to who pays to maintain and improve the fertility and quality of the soil.

“If a contractor is being pushed to increase output, then the first things to suffer are soil structure and ultimately, the wider environment.

“Farming simply cannot continue the way it is at present. If we choose to ignore environmental issues, it is at our own peril.”

As the popularity of these types of farming agreements increases, Malcolm believes landowners must be sure they are entering a deal which is right for them and their current situation, whilst also considering the potential long-term effects.

Malcolm added: “For some, contracting is a way of holding onto land while they decide what to do with it if there are no obvious family members looking to take on the farm.

“If this is the driver, the option of selling now when land values are still relatively strong should be a serious consideration.

“As the farmer, ask why it is being considered and as the contractor, make sure that you are not just taking on more land for the sake of it or to secure potato ground. Read the contract and take professional advice.”

Technological advances in mapping make light work for leading land agency

Bell Ingram has been working closely alongside Registers of Scotland to test and aid development of their new Land Information Service, ScotLIS.

ScotLIS allows both business users and the general public to search the map-based Scottish Land Register at the same time as searching for information on the Sasine Register – a chronological list of land deeds, which contain written descriptions of properties.

Designed to be fully responsive and interactive, the new ScotLIS service is accessible on both desktop and mobile and provides users with a wealth of land and property information.

Highlighting the importance of working alongside its stakeholders, Registers of Scotland has used customer interaction as a key part of the development of new features and improvements to the service.

Geographical Information System (GIS) Technician at Bell Ingram, Marcus Humphrey said: “ScotLIS is incredibly useful and much more user-friendly than previous services.”

“It has already brought savings in terms of both times and costs, and this should only increase over time”

Bell Ingram has been integral in the early development of this service, providing feedback which has been taken on board by the ScotLIS team at Registers of Scotland, such as suggesting the addition of an option to search by grid reference.

Marcus added: “As surveyors the map functionality is a brilliant addition. It allows us to see the area surrounding our searches – this contextual information is often very helpful.

“Another great feature is the ability to save a whole Sasine search sheet, it lets my colleagues and I note important information for later use.

“Moving forward, ScotLIS will greatly improve how we access Registers of Scotland data, and deliver cost and time savings as well.”

Land Agent Catherine Lawson urges young farmers to see industry bigger picture

It’s vitally important that young farmers ‘look beyond the farm gate and step out from behind computers’, according to leading rural experts

Catherine Lawson, Land Agent at Bell Ingram, feels young people need to see the bigger picture to make use of all opportunities within the agriculture sector.

Following her attendance at the prestigious Oxford Faming Conference (OFC), which ran from January 3-5, Catherine – a farmer’s daughter herself from Yorkshire – feels farmers need to adapt to the changing landscape.

She said: “Young people are the future of the industry. We need to have as much knowledge as possible in order to gain experience and understanding of a changing industry.

“It’s important that you look beyond your farm gate or computer and see the bigger picture so you can grow and expand both professionally and personally.

“While it is important not to always do something just because someone else is doing it, you also need to know what opportunities are available and keep up-to-date with what is happening in the industry in a wider context.

“I think we are a generation that is going to see a lot of change in the industry within our lifetime and, by broadening our knowledge, it will enable us to embrace those changes – whatever they may be.”

The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) is an annual conference for UK farmers that takes place every year and allows the farming community to discuss and exchange ideas.

Catherine believes the event is a great way to discover how fellow farmers are preparing for the year ahead.

She continued: “The event gave me the opportunity to meet new contacts and listen to some very inspiring and engaging presentations.

“I have come back to the office with a more realistic and also positive insight into the future of the agricultural industry.

“While I am under no illusion that the next few years won’t be without their challenges, I feel much more prepared for what may be ahead. It has reminded me how fortunate I am to work in the industry.”

OFC is a charity with a remit to educate and transfer knowledge in the agricultural sector, with the mission to ‘Inform, Challenge and Inspire’. For more information on the annual conference, visit https://www.ofc.org.uk.

Article posted on 28/02/2018