Shaun Jones Planning and Rural

22/05/2026

Website now live https://www.planningandrural.com/

07/05/2026

Exciting times for Shaun Jones Planning and Rural - watch this space!

23/04/2026

Shaun Jones Planning & Rural will be out and about at the Shropshire County Show, catching up with valued clients and meeting new faces. See you there!

14/04/2026

Every project starts with an idea and with the right guidance, that idea can become a success story.

If you’ve been thinking about your own planning project, this could be your sign to start.

Get in touch and let’s turn your plans into a success story too.

25/03/2026

“My son happened to meet Shaun, who explained the potential at Knockin Heath. Shaun guided us through the process and requirements, and following a positive pre-application response, we were delighted to secure full consent for three homes without difficulty, having failed ten years earlier. We found Shaun to be pragmatic, proactive, and clearly focused on the objective.”
Glen Noakes, Noakes Building Services Ltd, Knockin Heath, Oswestry

14/03/2026

The beautiful Rea valley in the sunshine

28/02/2026

Further detail has been released on the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026, alongside updates to the Farming Equipment & Technology Fund and Capital Grants.

🌾 SFI 2026 Highlights

✔ Actions reduced from 102 to 71
✔ Window 1 (June 2026): Farms up to 50ha & those without existing ELM agreements
✔ Window 2 (Sept 2026): Open to all farms
✔ £100,000 annual cap per business (one agreement only)
✔ 3ha minimum land requirement
✔ Moorland payment rates increasing
✔ Some payment rates reduced to protect food production
✔ Agreements reduced from 5 years to 3
✔ Separate SFI management payment removed

DEFRA says the focus is on supporting food production while delivering environmental benefits.

🚜 Other Funding Updates

Farming Equipment & Technology Fund - Opens 17 March 2026 (£50m)

Capital Grants - Opens July 2026 (£225m)
Animal Health & Welfare Review - Consultation on making it mandatory
New poultry grant - Supporting enhanced biosecurity and Avian Influenza control

With limited funding windows and first-come schemes, early preparation is key.

📞 Contact Shaun Jones Planning & Rural on 07989 741709

29/01/2026

Consent approved for Affordable Home despite recommendation for refusal

09/01/2026

Big update on SFI for farmers in England from DEFRA at the 2026 Oxford Farming Conference

Two application windows in 2026:
• June: for small farms and those without existing ELM agreements
• September: for all other farmers
RPA will publish full details before the window opens.

Changes to the SFI scheme:
• A simpler, more focused offer with fewer actions and less complexity
• Limits on land actions that take land out of production
• Reduced payment rates for certain actions so budgets go further
• DEFRA will set clear budgets and provide warnings before windows close so there are no more surprise shutdowns

Support and partnership commitments:
• A £30m Farmer Collaboration Fund to support networking and best‑practice sharing
• A new Farming and Food Partnership Board giving farmers a seat at the table for policy development
• Government aims to give clarity, stability and predictability for planning ahead

Want more details about the 2026 SFI offer or how it affects your farm? Please get in touch! Don’t leave it too late.

23/12/2025

Great sigh of relief for Farmers and landowners! 🎅 🎅 🎄
The months of peaceful determined action has brought a great outcome. 🇬🇧

Following a long-fought campaign by the NFU, the government has confirmed the threshold for inheritance tax changes due to come into force next April will be raised to £2.5 million.

19/12/2025