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To register or not?
I HAVE a property with about five acres of land. How do I go about registering a smallholding, and who with? What advantages are there for having my land registered as a smallholding? The land is in a designated green belt area so does this cause issues?
Tim Stringer
Rob Jeffery, of New Land Owner, replies: To register your land, phone Defra (0845 6037777) and explain that you wish to register your land as an "Agricultural Holding". They will require evidence of ownership and details, probably including a map, of the location, before issuing you with the vital "Holding No.". Ask them for a "Single Business Identifier" No. too. Tell them what livestock you intend to keep and who you should contact to acquire Herd and Flock Nos. It will be your local trading standards office.
The advantages of registration are as follows: You should not purchase any agricultural livestock (except less than 50 poultry) until you have a Holding No.; Even a neighbouring farmer should not graze unregistered land with his stock; If registered for VAT then most agricultural-related purchases will have reclaimable VAT on them, while most farm produce is VAT free. It would be wise to consult an agricultural accountant about the Tax and VAT situation.
The Green Belt issue should not be a cause for concern, until you wish to build on the land, when planning consent may be more difficult (but not impossible) to acquire.
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