SSSI and SFI Agreements

[Punch]

Anyone successfully applied for SFI where there is an SSSI on the land?
We have had an email asking for a notice and consent for planned activity even though we are not applying on the SSSI itself. It’s a wood in the middle of the farm and no options available.
The helpful NE answer the phone from 10am-3pm and if your on hold for more than 5 minutes they cut you off!
I‘ve emailed and had a reply that I should receive consent within 4 months!

 

[richard hammond]

Anyone successfully applied for SFI where there is an SSSI on the land?
We have had an email asking for a notice and consent for planned activity even though we are not applying on the SSSI itself. It’s a wood in the middle of the farm and no options available.
The helpful NE answer the phone from 10am-3pm and if your on hold for more than 5 minutes they cut you off!
I‘ve emailed and had a reply that I should receive consent within 4 months!

Not quite sure what the problem is? not applying on that block, why do they need notice and consent, just tell them that!!

 

[James Ream]

Had similar, phone RPA and they will send you a link to the correct form to fill in, and contacts within NE to return to. You need to send it to the Protected sites department. When you send it to NE, write a covering email explaining the situation. I was able to get it turned around quite quickly and still made my preferred start date….just!

 

[Pigless]

Anyone successfully applied for SFI where there is an SSSI on the land?
We have had an email asking for a notice and consent for planned activity even though we are not applying on the SSSI itself. It’s a wood in the middle of the farm and no options available.
The helpful NE answer the phone from 10am-3pm and if your on hold for more than 5 minutes they cut you off!
I‘ve emailed and had a reply that I should receive consent within 4 months!

There is another thread on here somewhere about it, usually inaccurate boundaries by NE.

 

[Punch]

Sent to protected sites email today. That’s when I got the generic 4 months to give consent email. Maybe they will turn it round for 1st April start rather than 1st August

 

[Punch]

Not quite sure what the problem is? not applying on that block, why do they need notice and consent, just tell them that!!

Different mind set with NE. I had tried that with RPA helpline and after being on hold and called back their answer was “cant get through to NE so just ask for consent and then we will offer agreement”

 

[Punch]

There is another thread on here somewhere about it, usually inaccurate boundaries by NE.

They look right on magic. Probably right though.
Hopefully the generic reply email I’ve had was over estimating the time frame.
Would be good if NE could do call back like RPA.

 

[Punch]

Just seen the other thread. Tried a search and thought nothing on here. Thanks for the help

 

[Hindsight]

Not quite sure what the problem is? not applying on that block, why do they need notice and consent, just tell them that!!

You can tell them wat you like. It is the system which picks up land parcels adjacent to a SSSI. And then have to seek NE consent. I am on my third application affected. Very irritating but hy it is standard bearucracy.

 

[farmerm]

Just seen the other thread. Tried a search and thought nothing on here. Thanks for the help

As you will have read in the other thread After you submit the request it seems to take some time between 3 days and 3 weeks for permission. The SSSI mapping is in our case, probably all cases, about 1.5m different to the RPA mapping layer so the system flags up for parcels where in reality it isn’t We should be allowed a simple self declaration of compliance on this issue. Complete waste of the time of everyone involved. It’s not even a new problem, it’s been there for years

 

[Punch]

I can confirm that after the initial email reply saying NE could take 4 months, we have today received an offer to start on 1st April.
I’ll just now have to decide who is the fool!

 

[Case290]

Has anyone any update information on inheritance tax on environmental schemes. This is 2023 and probably out of date.

 

[Levelsman]

Has anyone any update information on inheritance tax on environmental schemes. This is 2023 and probably out of date.

Wasn't it covered in Wednesday's Budget from that nice Mr Hunt?
It's all good!

 

[Flatland guy]

Has anyone any update information on inheritance tax on environmental schemes. This is 2023 and probably out of date.

Covered in budget, all OK from 6 April 2025, if you or someone dies before then with land in elms or any other environmental scheme... no relief it would appear because it only comes into effect on the date above.