Charles Holt (Lincoln)

Everyone has an element of their job or their business that they dislike, and (hopefully) many elements that they enjoy, or find fulfilling.  So, some people like the regular work of milking cows, well after most dairy farmers have retired or passed that task to younger family members.  Others enjoy the satisfaction of tying up the loose ends in their accounts and submitting their VAT each month.  

Not many farmers enjoy battling with local authority planners.  However, that is something that I do find fulfilling, especially when a case goes my way (or most crucially) my client’s way.  While this doesn’t always happen, it usually does.

So, there is something very satisfying leaving an LPA Planning Committee meeting knowing that you have obtained planning permission for the development that you and your client have been working on for months.  Usually, the reason why it has been called in to the Committee is because the planning officers are against it.  Nevertheless, between us and the client we have managed to obtain enough local support to warrant it being ‘called in’.  Then, in the meeting itself, the vote has seen the application passed.  And the client is delighted.

It is even more satisfying to receive a phone call from the client, some months later, to say that “the roof trusses are going on today”.  Then you really know the concrete results of your efforts.

Finally, when you are later told that they are moving in ‘next month’, you really know the meaning of success.   

Contact Charles at charlesholt@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office, to help in realising your dream farm development.