National Park 75th Anniversary
Spanning almost 1800 square miles, the Lake District National Park and Yorkshire Dales National Park are home to many of our rural and agricultural private clients and business clients. These iconic national parks are ‘on our doorstep’ and bring many interesting legal challenges and opportunities. We are proud to be working in this unique arena and celebrating their 75th anniversary.
With England’s highest peaks and largest lakes, the Lake District National Park is known for its traditional farming businesses, sought-after valuable residential properties and visitors from around the world. Many of the more traditional businesses have expanded and diversified to reflect modern trends and the leisure and tourism sector is a vital part of the economy.
Here at Temple Heelis, we regularly act for business clients and individuals who are buying or selling properties, changing or expanding their businesses, and restructuring their estates – all within the context of this environment which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Private water supplies, private sewage treatment systems and septic tanks, rights of common, manorial rights and riparian rights are just a few of the many legal issues which characterise most of our property work.
Peter Dodd, Partner and Head of Rural Land and Property, says: “It’s very much par for the course to deal with several of these aspects of Lake District life in each and every property transaction. Very often we also encounter boundary discrepancies, tenancies, unregistered land, covenants and easements, grazing licenses, access issues, planning restrictions and unregistered land.”
“Few firms are as immersed in these unique areas as Temple Heelis”, comments Peter who is a member of the Agricultural Lawyers’ Association. “Rural issues which may be a ‘once-in-a-blue-moon’ experience for many solicitors are probably every-day occurrences for my team. We love a challenge, and we love to create a solution for every client. Very often, there is no precedent for the unique set of factors we are presented with – and that is what we enjoy achieving for clients!”
Peter continued, “A particular priority at present is working with clients who are restructuring their agricultural assets in light of the Autumn 2024 Budget and the Inheritance tax implications for future generations. This is leading to land sales, transfers and purchases, changes of the use of land and new ventures or diversification on farming estates. My fellow Rural Land and Property team members, Jamie Hamilton and Robert Kornas, specialise in tax planning and are already assisting members of the farming community who wish to explore the options open to them.”
For further information, contact Peter Dodd, Partner and Head of Rural Land and Property.