Estate Matters

Joe and Keeley Evans run the Whitbourne Estate in Herefordshire. In this episode of Estate Matters, they discuss the challenges of growing their hospitality business, Crumplebury and what they have planned for the future of the estate. Joe also talks about his Vice Presidency of the CLA and what he hopes to achieve in his time as President. https://whitbourneestate.co.uk/ https://www.crumplebury.co.uk/

Sir William Worsley is the owner of the 3,000-acre Hovingham Estate in North Yorkshire, which has been in his family for more than 450 years. He is joined in this episode of Estate Matters by Avril Roberts, Senior Property and Business Policy Advisor with the CLA. The pair discuss masterplanning for rural estates and the importance of good communication and engagement with neighbours and stakeholders, set against the background of the Government's housing targets. https://www.hovi...

Iestyn John is a Partner at Planning Consultants, Bell Cornwell. In this episode of Estate Matters, he is joined by KOR's Senior Consultant in Public Affairs, Andrew Howard. The pair discuss the detail in the updated Framework and what opportunities that poses for landowners. Both agree the main thrust of the revisions is creating more new homes, more quickly. But will that mean compromising on "building beautiful"? Estates' reputations are built on the quality of any project th...

Michael Birnie (Property Director) and Sarah White (Head of Learning Programmes Development) from The Ernest Cook Trust, discuss how the management of the nine estates that make up the land holdings of the charity, is carried out with a clear focus on the Trust’s primary purpose as providers of outdoor learning. Michael describes the challenges of explaining that the Trust has charitable objects, but that those activities are funded by the land and property in its care. Sarah gives a ...

Ben Murphy is the Estates Director for The Duchy of Cornwall's 130,000 acres, spread across 23 counties. The Duchy earned a reputation for building beautiful places that meet local needs with Poundbury in Dorset, now seen as a blueprint for placemaking by designers, architects and planners all over the world. In this episode of Estate Matters, Ben reveals that the key to the success of Poundbury, and the principles that guide the current development at Nansledan in Cornwall, is engagement wi...

CLA President Victoria Vyvyan gives her thoughts on the approach of the new Labour Government. In an open and frank conversation with Estate Matters host Anna Byles, Victoria explains how she became involved with the CLA and discusses how she hopes new Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, will tackle issues around planning, energy and food production.

Minette Batters was the President of the National Farmers' Union for 6 years until February 2024. In her time as President, she navigated the effects of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and worked alongside six Secretaries of State. In this episode of Estate Matters, recorded at The Royal Bath and West Show, Minette shares some of the challenges she faced including how she overcame her fear of public speaking - something she became known for...