Rural Planning and Development Enquire now Securing planning permission for rural and farm-based projects can be challenging. The planning system is complex and Local Authorities place a strong emphasis on protecting the local environment. As a result, proposals for agricultural dwellings or new buildings must be carefully prepared and fully justified. At The Andersons Centre, we help clients put forward planning applications that are grounded in the practical needs of the farm. We have supported many successful applications by clearly demonstrating the agricultural requirement and providing sound financial justification. These are often key factors in gaining approval. Our advice is based on farming knowledge and long experience of working within the planning system. We focus on helping you put forward a strong and realistic case that gives your application the best possible chance of success. Are you are considering a rural development or planning application? We offer a free initial consultation for new clients Key Contacts Joe Scarratt Partner & Head of Farm Business Consultancy Rural Planning and Development Partner & Head of Farm Business Consultancy Joe Scarratt is a Partner and Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre. He specialises in assisting arable and mixed businesses, as well as some estates, with long term strategic business planning. Joe undertakes one-off business reviews as well as ongoing consultancy support to long term clients, focused on maximising profitability. He spends a considerable proportion of his time establishing and managing joint ventures and contract farming agreements. Qualifications & Experience 2018 to date - Head of Farm Consultancy at The Andersons Centre 2018 to date - Partner of The Andersons Centre 2009 - 2018 – Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre Delivers business advice to a wide range of farming businesses, focusing on the arable and dairy sectors Oversees the operation of a number of Contract Farming Agreements across all sectors Approved deliverer under DEFRA’s Farming Advice Service delivering group advice to farmers and agricultural professionals Approved deliverer under the Welsh Assembly’s Farming Connect Scheme, delivering advice to farmers across Wales Undertakes commissioned research projects 2005 - 2009 – Harper Adams University College. First Class BSc Hons Business Management with Marketing. The course focused upon the agri-food industry 2000 to Present – Working in and developing the family farming business. The farm is predominantly arable with a small beef enterprise Areas of Expertise Farming Joint Ventures and Contract Farming Farm Business Management Technical Farm Business Advice Farm Strategy and Succession Planning Farm Investment Appraisals and Loan Applications Farm and Rural Grant Applications Farm Business Tenancies Farm Business Administration Farming Connect (FC) accredited George Cook Senior Farm Business Consultant Rural Planning and Development Senior Farm Business Consultant George is a Senior farm and rural business consultant with the Andersons Centre team. He has over 35 years’ experience working with a wide range of businesses across all sectors. His approach is to bring practical reality to sometimes difficult financial and family challenges. On the more practical front he has an ongoing interest on the soil and land management topics of the businesses he deals with. Prior to joining the team, he had the benefit of 15 years of practical farming and formal training. This included manging a large estate farm in Suffolk and taking his father out of farming on the family rented farm. He is formally qualified with and HND (Ag Sc) Diploma in farm business management. He also has BASIS Facts and L6 quality of soils qualifications. He is a keen and competitive sportsman and has a team of working gundogs. Qualifications & Experience FBIAC and PIAgM BASIS L6 Quality of Soils BASIS FACTS Qualified 2015 Soil Health & Management Masters Module 2012 BASIS Certificate in Conservation Management - June 2007 BASIS qualified Soil and Water Management December 2011 1978 - present DEFRA Cereal Seed Inspector 1971 - 1975 Royl Agricultural College, Cirencester HND in Agricultural Science Diploma in Farm Management 2000 to Present - Senior Consultant in The Andersons Centre team 1993 to 2000 - Senior Consultant in Andersons’ Special Services Team 1987 - Joined Andersons’ Melton Mowbray office as a Farm Business Consultant 1975-1987 - Managing Partner 320 acre rented family farm, Surrey Assistant Farms Manager on a 2,500 acre beef and arable farm in Suffolk Farmers assistant 550 cow dairy unit, Dorset Areas of Expertise Whole Business Strategic & Detail Planning; a Practical Approach Problem Solving & Dispute Resolution Soil Health, Management, Cropping and Cultivation Strategies Investment Appraisal Practical approach to CSS and SFI Schemes Rural Plaaning Appraisals Joint Ventures and Business Tenances Amelia Rome Farm Business Consultant Rural Planning and Development Farm Business Consultant Amelia is a Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre. She works with numerous clients across England, specialising in the arable sector. She provides services such as budgeting and cash flow monitoring, investment appraisals, borrowing proposals, contract farming agreements, grant applications, environmental scheme applications, and whole business reviews. Amelia comes from an arable family farming business in Cambridgeshire and holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Agriculture with Farm Business Management from Harper Adams University. Qualifications & Experience Joined The Andersons Centre in November 2020 BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management (2:1) Harper Adams University (2019 Graduate) Placement year was spent with Andersons Northern in Edinburgh Delegate at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth 27th Agricultural Conference A continued involvement with the family farm business in Cambridgeshire. The farm enterprises include combinable crops, sheep and beef Areas of Expertise Experience in most aspects of lowland agriculture, but specialising in arable systems Practical knowledge of farm management Farming Joint Ventures and Contract Farming Technical Farm Business Advice Farm Strategy and Succession Planning Farm and Rural Grant Applications Business consultancy advice, budgeting and financial planning for agricultural businesses Accounts analysis; investment appraisals; business reviews; strategic planning and enterprise costings Edward Calcott Farm Business Consultant Rural Planning and Development Farm Business Consultant Edward is a Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre. He works with most farm sectors, specialising in poultry, mixed farming, and on-farm diversifications. He works with numerous clients across England Wales, under Farming Connect. He provides services such as budgeting & cashflow monitoring; borrowing proposals for new investments or debt restructuring; supporting agricultural reports for planning applications; investment appraisals; the setting up and management of contract farming agreements; grant applications; and business reviews. Edward comes from a mixed family farming business in Staffordshire which incorporates poultry, grazing livestock, arable and diversifications. He holds a BSc degree in Agriculture with Farm Business Management from Harper Adams University. Qualifications & Experience Joined The Andersons Centre in January 2019 BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management (2:1) Harper Adams University (2016 Graduate) Part of the winning team for the Institute of Agricultural Management Farm Planner competition whilst at Harper Adams. Placement year was spent with a large UK integrated poultry company. Time was spent on various breeder farms; the hatchery; and commercial farms for broiler chickens and turkeys. Part of the 2017-18 NFU Poultry Industry Program (PIP). A continued involvement with the mixed farming family business in Staffordshire. The farm enterprises include combinable crops, sucker cows, sheep and some agricultural contracting. Areas of Expertise Experience in most aspects of lowland agriculture including arable, beef, sheep, dairy and potatoes. On-farm diversifications including direct sales; marketing and holiday lets. Practical experience within the UK poultry sector, including layers, broilers, turkeys. Business consultancy advice, budgeting and financial planning for agricultural, food and rural businesses. Accounts analysis; investment appraisals; business reviews; strategic planning and enterprise costings. Contract farming and joint ventures. Practical knowledge of farm management. BPS, grant applications and farm assurance. Farming Connect (FC) accredited. Anna Bowen Farm Business Consultant Rural Planning and Development Farm Business Consultant Anna is a Senior Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre, specialising in dairy consultancy and nutrient management planning. Her work encompasses financial, strategic, and technical advice for dairy farmers; succession planning and people management, benchmarking; facilitating a number of dairy discussion groups across England and Wales, and working alongside the research team on dairy projects. Anna is FACTS qualified. Prior to Andersons Anna spent ten years working for a dairy consultancy in West Wales and read BSc (Hons) International Equine and Agricultural Management and MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security at the Royal Agricultural College. Anna manages a spring block calving dairy farm through a contract farming agreement and grew up on a dairy farm in West Wales. She sits on the AHDB Dairy Sector Council as a farmer representative and from 2023 to 2025 was a Trustee of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust. Qualifications & Experience February 2022 to Present Day – Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre Previously worked as a farm business consultant in West Wales Contract farms a 300- cow spring block calving herd in Ceredigion FACTS qualified RoMS accredited mobility scorer Approved Mastitis Control Plan and QuarterPro deliverer 2021 Nuffield Scholar- “Can the UK improve the ethics of its dairy calf management whilst retaining profitability?” 2019 Entrepreneurs in Dairying course 2017 Richard John Memorial Trust Scholarship, studied the sustainability of the Australian dairy industry 2016 MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (Royal Agricultural College) 2014 BSc (Hons) International Equine and Agricultural Management (Royal Agricultural College) Fluent Welsh speaker Areas of Expertise Farm business consultancy and budgeting Business reviews and strategic planning Practical experience of farm management Dairy farming, particularly spring block calving Nutrient management planning (Farming Connect approved) Herd health Publications Bowen A. (2023) Cow Calf Contact: Dairy’s Ethical Future Interim Nuffield report investigating the prevalence of calf euthanasia on UK dairy farms
